Ciolacu leads to the first round of the Romanian presidential election

Ciolacu leads to the first round of the Romanian presidential election

Last Sunday Romania's Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu won the first round of the presidential elections. The first voter surveys published after the polling stations were closed show that Ciolacu received around 25 percent of the vote. The head of the UsR Reform Party, Elena Lasconi, could go to second place. At around 18 percent, she is just ahead of two right -wing populist candidates who vote for voting. However, it is important to note that the voice of Romanians living abroad is not taken into account in these surveys, which could lead to possible deviations between forecasts and the actual result.

totaling 13 candidates, including the conservative ex-premier Nicolae Ciuca, who, however, only received between 13 and 14 percent of the vote. According to the surveys, clear fluctuations can be expected in the area of ​​right -wing populist politicians, as these between 14 and 16 percent. So while Ciolacu appears as a clear favorite, the distance to the other candidates in the final counting could be reduced.

The emerging reform politician LASCONI

Elena Lasconi is also in the headlines, since the move into the runoff election would mean a significant confirmation of her political career. The 52-year-old, who was elected chairman of the USR via the local mayor in Campulung Muskel, only started as a presidential candidate when other experienced politicians resigned in her party. Her earlier profession as a TV journalist could also give her an advantage, since the Romanian voters traditionally prefer a bourgeois head of state. Interestingly, all Social Democrats (PSD) have reached the runoff election in the past twenty years, but have always lost against candidates of the bourgeois camp.

If LACONI should get into the final round, she would have the opportunity to assert herself to her main competitor, the right -wing populist Simion. This could be supported by the general voter sympathy for a bourgeois attitude where the strategic election decision plays an important role.

The challenges of the right -wing extremist candidates

The candidate George Simion, an energetic nationalist, could be exposed to possible protests from other political camps. His racist statements and a supposed connection with the Russian secret service FSB meant that he was declared undesirable by Ukraine and Moldova in the past. Simion also made it clear that he is against military aid for Ukraine and is striving for closer cooperation between the European nation states.

The polling stations in Romania opened on Sunday morning at 6:00 a.m. CET and closed at 8:00 p.m. CET. 950 polling stations were set up abroad, including 17 in Austria, distributed over cities such as Vienna, Salzburg and Graz. In this semi -presidential republic, the President has significant political powers. The foreign and defense policy guidelines lie in his responsibility, and he is the very highest commander of the military.

Romania could soon choose a new head of state, whose political orientation will be of great importance not only for the country, but also for the entire region. In the upcoming runoff on December 8, it will be shown whether Ciolacu can continue his way to the presidency or whether a surprise victory by Lasconi or Simion makes it a turn in the Romanian political climate. Further information on the results and further development can be found here .