Will Romania vote the country from the European mainstream?

When Romanian presidential elections were abolished at the end of last year after the requirements of Russian intervention, the theorist for the right conspiracy was blocked from the main work.

Many Romanians were deeply relieved; Many others were angry, their votes were stolen.

But six months later, when the country returned to the voting ballot, another rigid European-smokehouse is in the president’s database.

George Simion won the first round of new elections on May 4 with a great margin. Now a former football everyday politician who has become a nationalist politician is facing Nikuzar den, a liberal mayor of Bucharest.

This is a vote that could see Romania, a member of both NATO and the European Union (EU), sharply turn from the European mainstream.

Both candidates expressed their votes on Sunday morning, and Simion said he voted for the future “, which should be solved only by Romanians, for Romanians and Romania.”

While Dan told reporters that he was voting for “cooperation with our European partners, not for Romania’s isolation.”

The polls were too close to call.

County Teleorman-one of the poorest areas of Romania and has been engaged in a solid Social Democrats for many years. But earlier this month, 57% of the voters chose Simion for the president in the first round of voting.

A couple of hours riding southwest of Bucharest, entering the region is proclaimed blue letters on a rusty metal arch over the main road.

The streets are lined with wild poppies rather than posters for companies for candidates. No obvious signs of elections.

But social media feed on people full of political content.

In the last clip that goes to the viral, there is a world of folk fantasy of embroidered tops, prayers and bears and my slogan “I choose Romania”.

“It was an anti-system, anti-Mainstry,” is how Felius Alexander of Aperio Intelligence explains a nationwide surge of support in the far round.

After more than three decades, the same parties that dominate politics caused disappointment with corruption and poor work.

“People are so dissatisfied with what happened in high -level politics, this is a vote against it,” Felius says.

The protest vote is not limited to the poorest or the most dissatisfied.

Company Comlat Dairy Firm is unrecognizable from business philippium running 25 years ago.

Then he would go at 05:00 every day in his Dats to manage round farms, buying milk. Then, every night, he handed the cheese and yogurt made by his three employees.

Now his old packing machine stands in the lobby as a reminder of the first days. But since then, Peter has received 1.5 million euros (£ 1.3 million; $ 1.7 million) in EU funding to modernize and expand its business. This is the money he should never pay.

“It was really a very good thing for us,” – delights the businessman, demonstrating the production line of brilliant metal machines in several rooms.

He has more than 50 employees.

“I like George Simion,” Michael’s staff says with a smile, simultaneously squeezing the liquid from the large lumps of cheese.

She shrugs when I mention the fear in Brussels that he will make a relationship in EU-romania.

“He is on the Romanian side. He is for people. Create a job and a better life,” Michael replies.

Simion talks a lot about “Make Romania Great Again”, repeating the politicians in the United States, to whom he is so fond of. He also has the same isolational approach: Romania first in everything.

When he pushed, he called Russian President Vladimir Putin a military criminal for invading Ukraine.

But, like Donald Trump, he also promised to stop the military aid of Kiev, and he left the future of vital exports of Ukraine through Romania.

Simion was banned in Ukraine and Moldova for calling for the territory to be part of Romania.

In the last blasts this week, he called his sample opponent “an automatic, poor guy.”

He also accused French President Emmanuel Macron of “dictatorial tendencies”.

Mr. Philip says the Simion is “too impulsive” to be president, caused by “hormones, not his brain.”

But he is so disappointed with the whole scene that it is inclined not to vote at all.

Only up on the road to Royo -De -Veda, they also discuss the elections -and break.

Roxana manages a factory that produces a working uniform, including the military in another EU country.

Its customers call it wonder if Romania will vote for the “pro -Russian” president.

“They want to know if their orders are safe!” She laughs.

Roxana herself plans to vote for the people who refer to his name Nikusar here because she liked how he managed Bucharest as the mayor.

She is also deeply concerned about what she calls the “hooligan” behavior of the symion.

“This is such a bad image for Romania in Europe. I’m ashamed,” Roxana says, reminding the insults of the Macron candidate this week.

In another recent incident, Simion threatened sexual attacks on the deputy woman, calling her pig.

“Compare it to the man who won the International Mathematics Olympiad,” Roxana says, citing the competition that Dan won in the 1980s. He continued to get his doctoral degree from Sorbon.

On the eve of the voting in the second round, Raxan and her friend Andrea participated in the grassroots initiative to convince the voters to return Dan.

“I tried to say why the symion plan is impossible, but I don’t think I was very successful,” Andrea admits, and says he is “very worried”.

“I see people saying online and they really believe in Simion, and I think it will shake and remove the system.

“They think everything is bad, but it’s not.”

Her own candidate, Dan, persistently pro-es, and his slogan “Honesty”.

“I do not promise miracles,” is his modest key to the polls. “But I promise that I will fight.”

If this struggle fails and Simion wins, it will not become the only fierce candidate at the Romanian policy forefront.

Most of his support comes from those who initially voted for Kalin Krugk, a figure from a fringe that won the first November election before it was abolished in national security.

Since then, both men have often performed nearby, and Simion has pledged to make George Prime Minister when he was elected.

It is unclear how this can work, given that he was accused of receiving the benefits of “massive” and “aggressive” Moscow intervention.

“If the Simion wins, there will be chaos from Monday,” Roxana predicts, including the economy.

“The question is whether he remains in the shadow of Georges or completely changes the perspective,” Felius agrees.

“Is it a company strategy, or what does he believe in?”