Romania elects its president, possible advance of the extreme right

Romanians began voting on Sunday, November 24, in the first round of the presidential elections in a tense social climate, which could favor the far-right candidate and mark a nationalist turning point in this Eastern European country.

Among the thirteen candidates, the leader of the AUR (Alliance for the Unity of Romanians) party, George Simion, 38, appears to be in a position to advance to the second round, according to polls, which attribute him between 15 and 19%, against some 25% for the favorite, the current social democratic (PSD) prime minister, Marcel Ciolacu, 56 years old.

With his passionate speech with mystical and conspiratorial overtones, Simion took advantage, according to experts, of the anger of Romanians impoverished by record inflation (10% last year, 5.5% expected in 2024).

His access to the second round, on December 8, would be a thunderclap in this State – a member of the European Union and NATO – of 19 million inhabitants that until now has resisted nationalist positions, standing out from Hungary or Slovakia.

The offices opened at 7 a.m. in Bucharest (6 a.m. in Paris) and closed at 9 p.m. Exit polls are expected soon after.

George Simion does not hide his admiration for Donald Trump

After ten years in power of Klaus Iohannis, a fervent supporter of kyiv and tireless defender of European values, these elections carry a lot at stake, although the office of president is essentially ceremonial.

Romania, which shares a 650-kilometer border with Ukraine and borders the Black Sea, plays a strategic role ” vital “recalls in a study by the New Strategy Center think tank. Both for NATO, which houses more than five thousand soldiers, and for the transit of Ukrainian grain.

“Romanian democracy is in danger for the first time since the fall of communism in 1989”analysis for Agence France-Presse by political scientist Cristian Parvulescu. With “a situation that has become complicated” since Donald Trump’s victory in the American elections.

George Simion, who sometimes wears a red cap with the Trump logo, does not hide his admiration for the billionaire and hopes to take advantage of this favorable wind for ultra-conservative currents. Against any military aid to Kyiv, which banned its activities. “anti-Ukrainian”against “the corrupt bubble” from Brussels, against LGBTQIA + rights: the official meets all the requirements of a nationalist policy and advocates for a Romania “more patriotic”.

Campaign marked by controversies and attacks

“We no longer want to be treated like second-class citizens”insists, deploring that Romania was only led by “cowards and lackeys” yielding to external dictates. He increased his travels throughout Europe to conquer the numerous members of the Romanian diaspora.

If you achieve a good score, your AUR party should benefit from“a contagion effect” in the legislative elections of 1^Ahem December, between the two rounds of the presidential elections, Parvulescu predicts.

The campaign has been marked by a series of controversies and personal attacks, with the far-right leader accused of meeting with Russian spies, which he has denied, while the prime minister is in the hot seat for controversial flights on private planes.

Despite his low popularity, Marcel Ciolacu, eager to convey the image of a humble and self-taught man, hopes to convince with his message of “stability”. His party, heir to the former Communist Party, has structured the country’s political life for more than three decades through multiple corruption scandals and currently governs in coalition with the liberals of the National Liberal Party.

In third position in the polls is Elena Lasconi, 52, a former journalist and mayor of a small city at the head of a center-right party, which could spring a surprise. “Our best hope would perhaps be to wake up with her the day after the first round, she seems like the most honest candidate”confesses Oana Diaconu, a 36-year-old computer scientist.