Romania votes: Centrist Dan on course to win, rival rejects exit poll

BUCHAREST: Romania’s centrist Bucharest mayor, Nicusor Dan, appeared on course to win Romanian presidency on Sunday, in an election closely watched across Europe amid a rise of support for US President Donald Trump.

However, his hard-right rival George Simion rejected the exit poll result. He said his count estimates have him at 400,000 votes more than Dan, as the far right cited “fraud” in the election.

Two exit polls showed Dan at 54-55 per cent of ballots following a last-minute dash to the top after weeks of trailing George Simion, a hard-right supporter of Trump and a Eurosceptic wanting to end military aid for Ukraine.

Dan had campaigned on a pledge to fight rampant corruption and to keep Romania firmly within the European mainstream.

If official results confirm the exit poll reading, Dan would need to nominate a prime minister to negotiate a majority in parliament to reduce Romania’s budget deficit – the largest in the EU – as well as to reassure investors and try to avoid a credit rating downgrade.

‘HEALTHY SOCIETY’

“There will be a difficult period ahead, necessary for economic rebalancing to lay the foundations of a healthy society. Please have hope and patience,” Dan told supporters after exit polls were published.

The president of Romania, an EU and NATO state, has considerable powers, including being in charge of the defence council that decides on military aid. The president will also have oversight of foreign policy, with the power to veto EU votes that require unanimity.

The voting in Romania took place on the same day as the first round of a Polish election in which a liberal frontrunner, Rafal Trzaskowski, is vying with two conservative Trump admirers, Karol Nawrocki and Slawomir Mentzen.

Official results are due to start trickling in later on Sunday in Romania, while exit polls in Poland are expected at 1900 GMT.

GROWING ANGER

The surge of popular support for Simion in the run-up to Sunday’s vote fuelled a public debate about growing anger in pockets of central Europe with mainstream elites over migration and cost of living pressures.

Speaking after voting ended, Simion said his election was “clear” and did not concede.

“I won!!! I am the new President of Romania and I am giving back the power to the Romanians!” Simion said on Facebook.

Political analysts had said victory for Simion would have risked isolating the country abroad, eroding private investment and destabilising NATO’s eastern flank.

The election took place nearly six months after the initial ballot was cancelled because of alleged Russian interference – denied by Moscow – in favour of far-right frontrunner Calin Georgescu, who was banned from standing again.