Romanian centrist has lead over hard-right ahead of tight Sunday vote-survey

17/5/2025 6:24

Centrist Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan gained a slight lead over hard-right eurosceptic George Simion, an opinion poll on Friday showed, ahead of Sunday's presidential run-off vote seen as a test of the rise of Donald Trump-style nationalism in the European Union.



Simion, who opposes military aid to neighbouring Ukraine and is critical of the EU leadership, decisively swept the first round of the presidential election rerun on May 4, triggering the collapse of a pro-Western coalition government which led to significant capital outflows.



A Simion win in Sunday's run-off could isolate Romania, erode private investment and destabilise the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, diplomats and analysts have said.