NewsDispelling expectations: Surprise leader in Romanian elections

Dispelling expectations: Surprise leader in Romanian elections

In the first round of the presidential elections in Romania, the current Prime Minister and leader of the PSD party, Marcel Ciolacu, is leading with 25%, and in second place is Elena Lasconi, the leader of the USR party (Union to Save Romania), with 18% – according to exit polls conducted by the CIRA-AVANGARDE-INSOMAR center. Independent candidate Calin Georgescu is in third place, with 16%. This podium lineup is a surprise.

According to the exit poll, George Simion, the leader of the radical right-wing AUR party, will not advance to the second round. Pre-election surveys gave him a good chance of securing second place.
According to the exit poll, George Simion, the leader of the radical right-wing AUR party, will not advance to the second round. Pre-election surveys gave him a good chance of securing second place.
Images source: © PAP | ROBERT GHEMENT
ed. TOS

24 November 2024 17:07

The research includes data as of 7 PM and does not include the diaspora. The absence of George Simion, the leader of the radically right-wing AUR party, from the top three is surprising. Pre-election surveys gave him a strong chance for second place.

At 2 PM Eastern Time in Romania, voting in the first round of the presidential elections concluded. At the time of closing the polls, the turnout, published on the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP) website, was 52.39%.

In the country and abroad, approximately 19 million people are eligible to vote.

Commentators note the high activity of the diaspora. By 1 PM Eastern Time, turnout abroad reached 49% and was higher than in the first round of the 2019 presidential elections.

There were 14 candidates in the presidential elections, but the main competition was among the four main contenders for the presidency. They include the Prime Minister and leader of the social-democratic PSD party Marcel Ciolacu, the head of the radically right AUR party George Simion, the leader of the USR (Union to Save Romania) party Elena Lasconi, and Nicolae Ciuca, the former Prime Minister and current head of the senate, leader of the National Liberal Party PNL, Nicolae Ciuca.

"The pits of the pits"

"These are the most disappointing elections in the history of democratic Romania," evaluated journalist Cristina Cileacu in an interview with PAP. "I don't know who to vote for. None of the candidates are my choice, and I honestly just want Simion not to make it to the second round," added another agency interviewee, Livia. "These elections are the pits of the pits, really. For the first time, I feel that none of the candidates represent me, and none are suitable for president. What's happening is very sad," concluded Roze, an interior architect.

The second round of elections will take place on December 8. Next Sunday, parliamentary elections will be held in Romania.

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