Romania is voting in a repeat presidential election on 4 May after the previous one was cancelled in December amid allegations of Russian interference.
Polling stations opened at 7:00 and will close at 21:00 local time (coinciding with Kiev time). Romanians abroad can vote from Friday.
According to the Romanian service of Radio Liberty, as of 8: 00, more than 750,000 people had voted in Romania. These figures indicate a higher turnout than in the first round of voting in 2024, when around 540,000 voters turned up at the polling station at the same time.
There are 11 candidates vying for the presidency. Four of them are independents, seven are backed by parties or coalitions.
More than 19 million Romanians, of whom one million live abroad, are eligible to vote in the first round of the 4 May presidential election. The second round is expected to take place on 18 May.
On 6 December 2024, the Constitutional Court cancelled the first round of Romania’s presidential election. According to a Romanian intelligence report, foreign figures manipulated social media platforms, especially TikTok, to promote far-right, pro-Russian candidate Kelin Georgescu. According to intelligence reports, the campaign was probably organised by Russia, which denies interference.
In March this year, Romania’s electoral commission banned Georgescu from the race, with the politician claiming “tyranny.” The electoral commission’s decision was later upheld by the Constitutional Court.
Romania’s Central Electoral Board soon allowed Giorghe Simion – leader of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) and an associate of Kelin Georgescu – to run in the May presidential election.
His main rivals are considered to be two centrists: the candidate of the power coalition, Crin Antonescu, and Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, who is running as an independent candidate.