Far-right figure tops Romania’s presidential rerun, will face pro-EU candidate in runoff

Romania’s far-right candidate George Simion takes a comfortable lead in the first round of presidential elections, according to near-final results for the rerun of last year’s annulled ballot.

The closely watched rerun may potentially herald a foreign policy shift in the EU country of 19 million, which has become a key pillar of NATO since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

With 99% of ballots counted, nationalist AUR party leader Simion — a fan of US President Donald Trump — is leading with 40.5% of the vote.

He will face off in the May 18 runoff against pro-EU Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan, who surges to second place at 20.9%, narrowly booting out governing coalition candidate Crin Antonescu at 20.3%.

“Together we made history today,” says Simion in a video message broadcast at his party’s headquarters as euphoric supporters chant “Out with the thieves, let patriots come.”