AFP – Romanians voted yesterday in the first round of a presidential election amid a surge in inflation that could favour far-right leader George Simion.
The vote kicks off two weeks of elections in the poor North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member country, including a parliamentary vote and a December 8 presidential run-off.
Social democrat Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu is leading a field of 13 contenders in the race to take over from President Klaus Iohannis in the largely ceremonial post.
Ciolacu has about 25 per cent support in opinion polls, followed by AUR leader Simion on 15 to 19 per cent.
Ciolacu, whose Social Democratic Party (PSD) has shaped the country’s politics for more than three decades, promised stability and a “decent” standard of living as he voted Sunday.
Simion, 38, has seen his popularity surge by tapping into voter anger over record inflation – 10 per cent last year and 5.5 per cent predicted for 2024 – while promising more affordable housing.
Looking for a new election breakthrough for European far-right parties, he warned of possible “fraud” and “foreign interference” when voting. But he added: “I am happy that we are giving Romanians hope and the prospect of a better future.”
Simion is targeting people like Rodica, a 69-year-old who was among the first to vote in Bucharest’s chilly sunshine. The pensioner, who would not give a family name, was afraid of the neighbouring war and wanted “better living conditions and peace”. The Black Sea nation now plays a “vital strategic role” for NATO – as it is a base for more than 5,000 soldiers – and the transit of Ukrainian grain, the New Strategy Center think tank said.
Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election has further “complicated” Romania’s choice, political analyst Cristian Pirvulescu told AFP. Known for his fiery speeches, Simion is a Trump fan who sometimes dons a red cap in appreciation of his idol.
