Runoff presidential election underway in Romania amid tight race and foreign influence concerns

Romania is holding the second round of its presidential election, with two candidates facing off in what experts are calling one of the most unpredictable contests in the country's recent history.

In the runoff are George Simion, the far-right leader who secured first place in the initial round with 40.94% of the vote, and independent candidate and current Mayor of Bucharest, Nicușor Dan, who garnered 20.99% in the first round.

Polls conducted just days before the runoff indicate that the two candidates are now neck and neck in terms of support. However, analysts caution that these polls do not account for the votes of Romania’s diaspora, which could prove decisive.

Local political experts say that the final outcome will likely depend on overall voter turnout and participation from Romanians living abroad.

The first round of voting took place on May 4, following a controversial election in November 2024, when independent right-wing candidate Călin Georgescu was initially declared the winner. However, Romania’s Constitutional Court later annulled those results, citing classified intelligence documents indicating Russian interference in the first round of voting.

With both candidates presenting starkly different visions for Romania’s future, today’s runoff could reshape the country's political landscape for years to come.