According to a poll published on Wednesday, right-wing leader George Simion is likely to win the second round of Romania’s presidential election, set to take place on May 18.
The poll, conducted by the Verifield Institute at the request of presidential candidate Nicușor Dan, showed that Simion is expected to receive 54.8% of the vote, while Dan is projected to get 45.2%.
The survey, carried out on May 6 among 944 people, has a margin of error of 3.19%. Nearly a third of respondents stated that they do not plan to vote, are undecided between the two candidates, or refused to answer.
Nicușor Dan, running as an independent candidate, garnered 21% of the vote. Analysts believe it will be difficult for him to attract supporters from other candidates, such as Crin Antonescu, the centrist supported by the government who placed third, and Victor Ponta, the former left-wing prime minister who now aligns with conservative nationalists, placing fourth.
During an impromptu debate at a conference organized by one of the country’s largest trade unions, both candidates expressed dissatisfaction with the corruption and incompetence of leading politicians but failed to agree on how to overcome the political divide.
Simion criticized the political establishment, calling it “globalist, progressive, satanic,” saying it supports Brussels, and emphasized that the European Union should not seek to replace NATO in defense matters.
George Simion won the first round of the election with 40.94% of the vote, while Nicușor Dan received 20.99%. Previously, Simion expressed the need to end the Russia-Ukraine war and opposed the supply of weapons to Ukraine.
