Romanians began voting on Sunday in a tense presidential election rerun — a close contest between a supporter of US President Donald Trump and a pro-EU mayor, which could reshape the course of the key NATO member that borders war-torn Ukraine. RFI English’s Jan van der Made went to meet some of the voters.
“Nicosur (Dan) is the one who can keep order,” says Eugenia, referring to the centrist mayor of Bucharest. Eugenia is almost 90 years old. She walks with difficulty, supporting herself with a cane, but today’s vote is crucial for her.
“I had 60 years taken by the communist regime. And I had enough.
Eugenia says she’s “almost sure” that communism could come back if the nationalist Pro-Russian George Simion were to win.
“The Russians are very interested in our country, they invaded Romania seven times,” she said.
If nationalist George Simion wins the rerun, held after last year’s vote was annulled over allegations of election interference, he would become the country’s first far-right president.
That would make Romania part of a growing group of EU members with nationalist leaders critical of Brussels and keen to cut military aid to Ukraine.
But in this more affluent part of Bucharest, it’s hard to find voters who support Simion.
Jonas, sporting a bright red jacket and a black T-shirt, is also voting for Dan, and “hopefully for a continuous future within the European Union,” he says.
He is not surprised by the sudden rise in popularity of the far-right AUR party and its leader George Simion, the other presidential candidate.
Jonas hopes that being part of the EU would give “more opportunities to the young people” to “grow inside the Union.”
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