Candidates neck-and-neck — early outcomes – DW

[ad_1] Skip next section Dan warns of 'difficult times' as Simion claims win 05/18/2025 Might 18, 2025 Dan warns of 'tough instances' as Simion claims win

Romania's centrist presidential candidate Nicusor Dan, who's neck and neck with hard-right candidate George Simion in line with early outcomes, praised Romania's power however warned that robust financial instances lay forward.

Exit polls after the second spherical of the presidential election present Dan main Simion, a right-wing populist and supporter of US President Donald Trump.

Dan advised reporters after polls had closed on Sunday night that "a group of Romanians has gained, a group that desires a profound change in Romania."

"When Romania goes by way of tough instances, allow us to bear in mind the power of this Romanian society," he stated.

"There will likely be a tough interval forward, vital for financial rebalancing to put the foundations of a wholesome society. Please have hope and endurance," Dan added.

Simion, nevertheless, contested the exit polls, saying he had secured 400,000 extra votes than his centrist rival.

https://p.dw.com/p/4uYnB

Skip next section Centrist Nicusor Dan leads, exit polls show 05/18/2025 Might 18, 2025 Centrist Nicusor Dan leads, exit polls present

Exit polls favored Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan to win Sunday's presidential runoff.

The professional-EU centrist was forward with 54.9%, exit polls steered, whereas his hard-right rival George Simion was on 45.1%.

Official outcomes are anticipated afterward Sunday or within the early hours of Monday.

https://p.dw.com/p/4uYmB

Skip next section Polls close in Romania's presidential election 05/18/2025 Might 18, 2025 Polls shut in Romania's presidential election

Polls have closed within the runoff spherical of Romania's presidential election, the place h ard-right candidate George Simion is dealing with off towards pro-EU Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan.

https://p.dw.com/p/4uYm1

Skip next section Paris denies Telegram founder's allegations about interference in Romanian vote 05/18/2025 Might 18, 2025 Paris denies Telegram founder's allegations about interference in Romanian vote

France has denied what officers known as "fully unfounded allegations" relating to interference in Romania's presidential election.

"France categorically rejects these allegations and calls on everybody to train accountability and respect for Romanian democracy," the French Overseas Ministry wrote on X, in reference to a press release by Telegram founder Pavel Durov, claiming {that a} Western European nation he didn't title, however hinted was France, had requested the platform to "silence conservative voices."

The French Overseas Ministry famous that the primary spherical of elections in December was annulled amid reviews of electoral violations and interference by Russia.

"On this context, the latest accusations towards France are merely a diversionary maneuver from the true threats of interference focusing on Romania," the ministry stated.

The ministry additionally confused France's help for Romania in its EU accession in 2007, in addition to militarily.

"Mendacity about France, insulting it, is breaking this historical past," the ministry posted.

https://p.dw.com/p/4uYhJ

Skip next section Bucharest cites 'hallmarks of Russian interference' at presidential vote 05/18/2025 Might 18, 2025 Bucharest cites 'hallmarks of Russian interference' at presidential vote

Romania stated it was debunking "a viral marketing campaign of faux information" on social media platforms together with Telegram in the course of the presidential election.

"Throughout Romania’s ongoing presidential elections but once more we see the hallmarks of Russian interference," the Overseas Ministry spokesman stated in a press release on X, including {that a} viral marketing campaign "is aimed to affect the electoral course of."

"This was anticipated and authorities debunked the pretend information."

The assertion adopted a put up by Telegram founder Pavel Durov claiming {that a} Western European nation he didn't title (however steered was France) had requested the platform to "silence conservative voices" in Romania.

https://p.dw.com/p/4uYf2

Skip next section Western government asked Telegram to 'silence conservative voices,' platform founder claims 05/18/2025 Might 18, 2025 Western authorities requested Telegram to 'silence conservative voices,' platform founder claims

Pavel Durov , the founding father of the Telegram messaging app, claimed on Sunday that the platform was approached by a Western European authorities, asking it "to silence conservative voices in Romania forward of right now’s presidential elections."

Although he didn't title the federal government, he posted the emoji of a baguette.

"I flatly refused," Durov wrote in a put up on the platform. "Telegram won't prohibit the freedoms of Romanian customers or block their political channels."

The Telegram founder argued that democracy can't be defended by "destroying" it.

"You possibly can’t 'combat election interference' by interfering with elections," Durov wrote. "You both have freedom of speech and honest elections — otherwise you don’t."

A primary spherical of the Romanian presidential election, held final 12 months, was annulled following reviews of electoral violations and interference by Russia. The Kremlin denies the accusations.

The Russian-born, Dubai-based Durov was detained in France last year amid an investigation into crimes associated to little one pornography, drug trafficking and fraudulent transactions related to Telegram.

Durov returned to Dubai in March. He denies any wrongdoing.

https://p.dw.com/p/4uYRX

Skip next section Quarter of eligible voters cast ballot by noon 05/18/2025 Might 18, 2025 Quarter of eligible voters solid poll by midday

Official electoral knowledge has proven that greater than 4.6 million folks — 25% of eligible voters — had solid their poll by midday (0900 UTC).

Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. native time and had been to shut at 9 p.m.

Extra the 750,000 Romanians residing overseas have additionally voted since particular polling stations exterior the nation opened on Friday.

https://p.dw.com/p/4uXgm

Skip next section Why was the Romanian election annulled? 05/18/2025 Might 18, 2025 Why was the Romanian election annulled?

The earlier presidential election, held in November, noticed far-right, pro-Russia political outsider Calin Georgescu surprisingly come out on prime within the first spherical.

The vote was later annulled by Romania's constitutional court , which discovered irregularities within the financing and group of the main marketing campaign.

Alleged electoral violations included the activation of 1000's of beforehand inactive social media accounts to unfold pro-Georgescu messaging as a part of an "aggressive Russian hybrid assault," which Moscow denies.

Romanian public prosecutors in February opened an investigation into Georgescu , who had been banned from standing once more in Might's rerun.

Romania prepares for heated presidential election To view this video please allow JavaScript, and think about upgrading to an online browser that supports HTML5 video

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Skip next section Who are the candidates? 05/18/2025 Might 18, 2025 Who're the candidates?

George Simion, representing the hard-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), has counted on support from disgruntled Georgescu voters .

Many are involved not solely by excessive inflation and the growing price of residing within the EU nation however are now additionally influenced by conspiracy theories relating to the cancellation of the unique vote.

Far-right candidate stokes concern amongst Romania's Jews To view this video please allow JavaScript, and think about upgrading to an online browser that supports HTML5 video

Simion has described his AUR get together, which promotes "household, nation, religion and freedom," as "completely aligned with the MAGA [ President Donald Trump's 'Make America Great Again'] motion" within the US and has not dominated out appointing Georgescu as prime minister ought to he win.

Simion's challenger is incumbent Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, a 55-year-old mathematician and former anti-corruption activist who based the Save Romania Union get together (USR) in 2016. He is working on a pro-EU "Sincere Romania" platform.

Acknowledging the problems dealing with Romanians, he stated the Jap European nation wants a president "who has the desire and the power to reform the system."

https://p.dw.com/p/4uX7d

Skip next section Polls open with tight second round expected 05/18/2025 Might 18, 2025 Polls open with tight second spherical anticipated

Polls opened for the second spherical of the Romanian presidential election, with a excessive voter turnout anticipated.

About 53% of the inhabitants, or 9.5 million folks, voted within the first spherical, on Might 4,. Hard-right candidate George Simion topped the first round, gaining 41% of the vote.

He's now dealing with off towards pro-EU Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan, who got here second within the Might 4 vote.

Pro-EU Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu resigned following the primary spherical, saying his ruling coalition had "no legitimacy" after populist Simion secured over 40% of the vote.

https://p.dw.com/p/4uX7Z

Skip next section Welcome to our coverage 05/18/2025 Might 18, 2025 Welcome to our protection Romanians are casting their ballots on Sunday to elect a brand new president in a tense runoff between a hard-right nationalist and a pro-EU centrist.

The race pits George Simion, the 38-year-old chief of the hard-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, or AUR, towards Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan.

The vote comes months after the cancellation of the earlier election — over allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference — plunged Romania into its worst political disaster in a long time.