Presidential runoff starts in Romania

Romanian voters started casting ballots on Sunday in a decisive presidential runoff which pits George Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians, against Nicusor Dan, the mayor of Bucharest. The election marks the second round of a rerun after the 2024 presidential results were annulled due to allegations of irregular campaigning practices and foreign interference.

Simion won the first round earlier this month with 40.96 percent of the vote, ahead of Dan's 20.99 percent, which reflects growing public frustration with Romania's political establishment. Under Romania's constitution, the president holds significant powers in foreign policy, defense and judiciary, including the nomination of the prime minister.