Romanians vote in Presidential redo after voided election sparked deep political crisis

Romanians vote in critical Presidential election redo amid political crisis, with nationalist and pro-EU candidates vying for power.

Romanians are casting ballots on Sunday (May 3, 2025) in a critical Presidential election redo after last year’s annulled vote plunged the European Union (EU) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member country into its worst political crisis in decades.

Eleven candidates are vying for the Presidency and a May 18 runoff is expected. Polls opened at 7 a.m. (0400 GMT) and will close at 9 p.m. (1800 GMT). Romanians abroad have been able to vote since Friday (May 2, 2025).

Romania’s political landscape was shaken last year when a top court voided the previous election in which the far-right outsider Calin Georgescu topped first-round, following allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference, which Moscow has denied.

Like many countries in the EU, anti-establishment sentiment is running high in Romania, fuelled by high inflation and cost of living, a large budget deficit and a sluggish economy. Observers say the malaise has bolstered support for nationalist and far-right figures like Georgescu, who is under investigation and barred from the rerun.

While data from local surveys should be taken with caution, a median of polls suggests that hard-right nationalist George Simion will enter the runoff, likely pitting him against Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, or the governing coalition’s candidate, Crin Antonescu.

Mr. Dan, a 55-year-old mathematician and former anti-corruption activist who founded the Save Romania Union party (USR) in 2016, is running on a pro-EU “Honest Romania” ticket. He says Romania needs a President “who has the will and the ability to reform the system.”

Veteran centrist Antonescu (65) has campaigned on retaining Romania’s pro-Western orientation, while Victor Ponta, a former Prime Minister between 2012 and 2015, has also pushed a MAGA-style “Romania First” campaign and boasts of having close ties to the Trump administration.