Romania rearranges the controversial elections after previous voting

Romanians will try to elect a new president again today, six months after the first attempt ended with scandal and confusion.

A radical outsider with mystical preferences, Kalin Bridk, appeared on November 24, but this result was abolished due to allegations to the fraud of the company and the intervention of the Russian one.

In February, US Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized Romania for this decision, sending shock waves through the Romanian political institution, which greatly relies on its special relations with the US. St. Jigs were forbidden to participate in today’s repetition.

In this election, nationalist George Simion, leader of the Union of Romanians (AUR), against three centrists: the popular mayor of Bucharest Nikuzar Dan; Kryn Antones, Liberal, representing the ruling Social Democrat and the National Liberal Coalition; And Elena Lasconi, independent.

Seven other candidates are on the ballot. If no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, a break between the first two candidates will take place on May 18.

“This election is not about a candidate, but about every Romanian who was false, ignored, humiliated and still has the strength to believe and defend our personality and rights,” Simon placed on X on Friday.

Opinion polls – sad, unreliable in Romania – believe that he will come first today, and then face a fierce competition either with Nikusar Dan or with Antoncu Kran as a result.

The result is nervously expected in European capitals, Washington, Kiev and Moscow. Romania is an important transit route for weapons and ammunition systems. The country has a US missile defense shield in Devesel and three major airbases, of which NATO flies air police protection to the border of Ukraine and Moldova, and across the Black Sea.

Ukraine exports 70% of its grain down the Black Sea coast, through the Romanian territorial waters, to Istanbul. The Romanian Fleet demo these waters, and the Romanian Air Force train Ukrainian pilots to fly the F-16. Trump administration overestimates its commitment to Romania. On the eve of the election, a visa-verse agreement was abolished.

“Forget about additional assistance to Ukraine if the Simion becomes president,” says George scooter, security expert at the new strategic center in Bucharest. As head of the National Security Council, the President can veto any decision and have a strong impact on security policies. But Scutaru expresses “prudent optimism” that one of the central ones wins.

Public resentment on Romanian financial support for Ukrainian refugees has become a central plaque in the Simion campaign, although he denies pro -Russian.

On the afternoon baking, a crowd of excursion crowds of the gardens of the Katzeni -Polats, a presidential residence in the west of Bucharest. The decision of the temporary president Ily Bolayan to open buildings and gardens for the public is very popular with visitors.

White and purple irises line the trails under the ancient horse chestnuts in full flower. The military group marching among flower beds and violets. The palace is a former monastery transformed in the 17th century, which became a home in the Romanian royal family in the 19th century.

“I really can’t imagine the Simon here …” Ionut, a satirical writer, tells me next to the decorated waterfall, looking at the walls of the palace. He voted for the Simion in the first round of the November elections, from anger with constant delays to the full membership of Romania’s free journey. And disappointment with Romanian President Claus Iohanis.

But Romania finally joined the Schengen land on January 1, and Johanis retreated the same month. “The novels are less evil now,” he said. He told his daughter that he would vote for Nikousar Dan in this election, but did not quite decide.

Ana, the management consultant, coming with his family through the palace gardens, also supports Nikusar Dan. “I want to vote for continuity and change,” she says. “Continuity in Romania’s relations with Europe, but the change regarding corruption. We, young people, are no longer treating old parties,” – something in common with Nikuzar.

Many in the Great Romanian diaspora – a million registered for voting – have already thrown ballots, especially in Spain, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom. They are invisible in opinion polls and can easily shake the final result.