Ultranationalist George Simion secured a solid victory in the first round of Romania's presidential election, but he failed to secure the majority needed to avoid a runoff with Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan.
After all ballots were counted on the morning of May 5, Simion, the 38-year-old leader of the AUR party, came out on top with 40.96 percent, or 3,860,000 votes, according to Romania's Central Election Commission.
Dan, 55, considered a moderate politician, edged out Crin Antonescu, a member of the country's ruling coalition, to take second place, helped by votes from the diaspora.
Dan received 20.99 percent of the votes, while Antonescu received 20.07 percent, A2 reports.
About 973,000 people voted in the diaspora, the data showed.
Simion also came first with votes from the diaspora. He received 61 percent of them, followed by Dan with 26 percent and Antonescu with 6.8 percent.
"We're in the second round. Thank you," Dan wrote on his Facebook page.
Post-vote polls had suggested similar overall results, although they gave Simion a smaller lead.
"I think it's an irreversible result, as things stand," Antonescu said, after being outvoted by Dan. "I presented a program; the Romanian people's decision was different."
"The votes are clear – the citizens have spoken. I'm sorry. I'm ending this effort, I think, with my head held high," he said.
Antonescu did not state who he favored for the second round of the election. “I have no recommendations,” he said, urging voters “to think for themselves which candidate’s ideas are in line with those I have presented.”
Simion told his supporters, via video link, during the night, that "together we wrote history!"
"We are approaching an extraordinary result, beyond what the [mainstream] televisions are presenting... which only know how to arrogantly incite division, poison, distort everything and spread lies," he said.
The elections were followed with interest even outside Romania, partly due to the fact that Simion made controversial statements claiming parts of Ukrainian and Moldovan territories, as well as questioning military aid to Ukraine.
He also criticized the ongoing Russian occupation of Ukraine.
Last November, Calin Georgescu, a pro-Russian nationalist considered an inexperienced candidate, achieved a surprise victory in the first round of voting.
However, authorities annulled the results, amid allegations of a Russian influence campaign to push his candidacy forward. Georgescu was barred from running in the new elections, and a set of new rules were imposed for a repeat vote on May 4.
The cancellation of the elections drew criticism outside Romania, including from United States Vice President JD Vance, who accused officials of acting under "great and suspicious pressure from continental neighbors."
Simion has publicly embraced some of the rhetoric of US President Donald Trump and his movement.
The presidential runoff between Simion and Dan will be held on May 18.
Before the elections, most observers said that Simion would have a hard time winning the second round, especially if Dan or Antonescu came in second place./ REL (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
