Romanians flocked to polling stations on Sunday to elect the country's next president, a choice between a pro-EU centralist and a far-right European phenomenon.
By noon local time, about 25% of the country's voters had voted, with more than 41% of the votes being 1 million more than the first round of May 4.
But Bucharest’s independent mayor Nicu or Dan grabbed the opponent’s qualifications and qualified for the campaign as 21%, he got caught in a poll and counted on huge turnout to make the scales show favor with him.
"This is a turning point. I vote for the direction of Europe, not for the isolation of Romania," Dan said on Sunday.
The country has been plagued by a political crisis since November, when little-known far-right candidate Călin Georgescu won the first round of the presidential election and was subsequently cancelled due to so-called Russian intervention. Georgescu is banned from running again and is undergoing criminal investigations that violate campaign finances and is trying to subvert democratic order.
If Simion is president, he has promised to appoint Georgescu as prime minister. The two voted together on Sunday, and Georgescu said he voted for traditional family values and “health and forgiveness.” Simon said he voted on the injustice committed by the Romanian people.
Voters in Bucharest are eagerly awaiting the outcome of this election.
“I hope we can leave this terrible period behind us once and for all and in a way that pushes Romania into the future rather than the past.” “We need to change, but we need to change better, not worse.”
Simon's first round victory has caused political and economic turmoil, with the Prime Minister resigning, and Romanian Leu defeating the euro sharply in an effort to raise debt in the international market. Analysts say Romania has the highest budget deficit in the EU and its credit rating is only one step higher than its junk status.
"At the last minute, we mobilized both camps on a large scale," said Radu Magdin, an independent political adviser. "If you participate more than 60%, that could be favorable for outliers, Dan. It will be nervous."
He added that the large Romanian diaspora (voting started on Friday, with votes conducted at noon Sundays all more than they did in the first round - either way to swing. Polls were posted when the polls were closed at 9 p.m. local time.
In many European countries, Romania's semi-total system has given the power of the head of state, the president has formulated foreign and security policies, participated in meetings of EU leaders, and made a final say in decisions such as military aid to Ukraine.
Simion is skeptical about Ukraine, which shares a 600-km border with Romania and says aid must be stopped because it will only perpetuate the war. Dan is firmly committed to helping Ukraine and Romania maintain a firm EU and NATO allies.
Former President Traian Băsescu said on Sunday that the vote was also a referendum on the pro-Western path the country has taken since the fall of communism.
"Perhaps today, people will decide whether it's good," Băsescu said. "If the option is pro-Moscow, one candidate will be voted on, and if the option is pro-Atlantic, another candidate will be voted on. It's a decisive day."