Thousands protested in Bucharest against the annulment of Romania’s presidential election and the ban on far-right frontrunner Calin Georgescu. With a new vote set for May, George Simion emerges as the hard-right's candidate, as tensions rise over Romania’s political future and EU ties.
Thousands of Romanians gathered in the capital Bucharest on Wednesday to protest the December cancellation of a presidential election and the banning of its far-right frontrunner from standing for office again.
The European Union and NATO member which borders Ukraine will repeat its two-round presidential election on May 4 and 18 after the Constitutional Court voided the initial ballot in December following accusations of Russian meddling in favour of far-right, pro-Russian frontrunner Calin Georgescu.
Earlier this month, it banned Georgescu from running again, and George Simion, leader of Romania's second largest party, the Alliance for Uniting Romanians (AUR), subsequently became the hard right's replacement candidate.
Georgescu, who turned 63 on Wednesday, has not publicly commented since he was disqualified and has stopped short of outright endorsing Simion.
Opinion surveys released earlier this month show Simion is poised to make it into the run-off vote on May 18.
Simion's AUR organised Wednesday's protest outside the government headquarters in downtown Bucharest, which saw several thousand people gather, shouting "Freedom" and "Thieves," waving flags and blowing vuvuzelas.
Separately, a competing pro-Georgescu rally saw several thousand more protesters gather.
"This fake government should fall. It has cut democracy and sold the country," said Claudiu Ghita, 62, a retired railroad worker. "I will vote for George Simion in May."
If a far-right candidate succeeds in swaying Georgescu's voters, it could determine whether another central European country swings closer to Moscow beside Hungary and Slovakia.
"Calin Georgescu is out, we will vote Simion. The ultranationalists have not been in power yet and we need peace," said Maria, who declined to give her last name. She was wearing a red Make America Great Again T-shirt and waving a giant Romanian flag.
The far right, which now holds 35% of parliament seats, has painted Romanian mainstream parties as beholden to covert Brussels interests, and has stoked fears that EU support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia will pull Romania into the war.
Millions of voters in Romania, Poland, and Portugal will head to the polls this Sunday, with crucial elections that could shape the future of their countries amid rising political tensions.
George Simion, a far-right, eurosceptic politician, emerged as the clear winner in the first round of Romania's presidential election re-run on Sunday, securing 41% of the vote. He will face Bucharest's Mayor Nicusor Dan, who came in second with 21%, in a runoff scheduled for May 18.
Populist candidate George Simion is on track to win the first round of Romania’s presidential election, fueling concerns over the country’s future direction.
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Romanians vote Sunday in a rerun presidential election with far-right eurosceptic George Simion leading the polls, a potential upset that could unsettle markets and raise alarms in the EU and NATO.
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President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. is close to a nuclear agreement with Iran, though both sides remain divided on key conditions.
The UK has announced a raft of investment for international initiatives to support UN peacekeeping activity.
Authorities in Chad have reported fatalities and injuries following a violent incident in the country’s southwest, with limited details provided about those involved.
Drone attacks in Khartoum state caused power outages, escalating Sudan's ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis.
President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. is close to a nuclear agreement with Iran, though both sides remain divided on key conditions.
The UK has announced a raft of investment for international initiatives to support UN peacekeeping activity.
Authorities in Chad have reported fatalities and injuries following a violent incident in the country’s southwest, with limited details provided about those involved.
Drone attacks in Khartoum state caused power outages, escalating Sudan's ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin might be skipped if a ceasefire agreement is reached during technical talks in Istanbul. He also called for increased sanctions if Russia shows no willingness to end the war.
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