Romania held voting on 4 May for a repeat presidential election after the previous one was cancelled in December amid allegations of Russian interference.
Polling stations opened at 7:00 and closed at 21:00 local time (coinciding with Kiev time). Romanians abroad could vote from Friday.
According to the results of the CURS exit poll released, the presidential candidates got the following results:
- George Simion-33.1 per cent;
- Crin Antonescu-22.9 per cent;
- Nicusor Dan-20.9 per cent;
- Victor Ponta-14.7 per cent.
According to the exitpoll of the Vanguard sociological agency, the preliminary results of voting in the presidential election are as follows:
- George Simion-30%;
- Crin Antonescu-23%;
- Nicusor Dan-23%;
- Victor Ponta – 15 per cent;
- Elena Laskoni-4 per cent.
Eleven candidates are 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 Romanian Unity (AUR) and an associate of Kelin Georgescu – to run in May’s presidential election.
Polls show that far-right candidate George Simion will make it to the second round of the election.
His main rivals are considered to be two centrists: the candidate of the power coalition, Crin Antonescu, and the mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, who is running as an independent candidate.