Upset election results shake up Romania's political landscape
In the first round of the presidential elections in Romania, the current Prime Minister and leader of the PSD party, Marcel Ciolacu, is leading with 25%. In second place is Elena Lasconi, the leader of the USR party (Union to Save Romania), with 18%, according to exit polls conducted by the CIRA-AVANGARDE-INSOMAR centre. Independent candidate Călin Georgescu is in third place with 16%. This lineup on the podium is a surprise.
The research includes data as of 7 pm GMT and does not include the diaspora. The absence of George Simion, the leader of the radically right-wing AUR party, from the top three is surprising. Pre-election surveys had given him a strong chance of securing second place.
At 7 pm in Romania, voting in the first round of the presidential elections concluded. At the time of closing the polls, the turnout, published on the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP) website, was 52.39%.
In the country and abroad, approximately 19 million people are eligible to vote.
Commentators note the high activity of the diaspora. By 6 pm GMT, turnout abroad reached 49% and was higher than in the first round of the 2019 presidential elections.
There were 14 candidates in the presidential elections, but the main competition was among the four leading contenders for the presidency. They include the Prime Minister and leader of the social-democratic PSD party Marcel Ciolacu, the head of the radically right AUR party George Simion, the leader of the USR (Union to Save Romania) party Elena Lasconi, and Nicolae Ciucă, the former Prime Minister and current head of the Senate, leader of the National Liberal Party (PNL).
"The pits of the pits"
- These are the most disappointing elections in the history of democratic Romania, evaluated journalist Cristina Cileacu in an interview with PAP. - I don't know who to vote for. None of the candidates are my choice, and I honestly just want Simion to not make it to the second round, added another agency interviewee, Livia. - These elections are the pits of the pits, really. For the first time, I feel that no candidate represents me, and none are suitable for president. What's happening is very sad, concluded Roze, an interior architect.
The second round of elections will take place on 8th December. Next Sunday, parliamentary elections will be held in Romania.
