STORY: Romanian presidential candidate, hard-right nationalist George Simion on Sunday (May 18) cast his vote in the country’s presidential election run-off.

Simion, 38, who opposes military aid to neighbouring Ukraine and is critical of European Union leadership, decisively swept the first presidential election round, triggering the collapse of a pro-Western coalition government.

His opponent, centrist Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan, 55, has pledged to clamp down on corruption, is staunchly pro-EU and NATO, and has said Romania's support for Ukraine is vital for its own security against a growing Russian threat.

Romania's vote comes nearly six months after the initial ballot was cancelled because of alleged Russian interference - denied by Moscow - in favour of far-right frontrunner Calin Georgescu, who was then banned from standing again.

An opinion poll on Friday showed Dan slightly ahead of Simion for the first time since the first round in a tight race that will depend on turnout and the sizable Romanian diaspora.

Voting started at 7 a.m. (0400 GMT) and ends at 9 p.m. (1800 GMT), with exit polls to follow immediately.

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STORY: Bucharest mayor and presidential candidate Nicusor Dan cast his vote on Sunday (May 18) in Fagaras as polls opened in Romania's presidential election run-off that pits a hard-right eurosceptic against a centrist independent, and where the outcome could have implications for both the country's struggling economy and EU unity.

"I voted with the many people who are quiet, honest, hardworking and who have not felt represented for a long time. Two weeks ago, Romanians voted for change. The question is which change" Dan asked after casting his vote.

Dan, who has pledged to clamp down on corruption, is staunchly pro-EU and NATO, and has said Romania's support for Ukraine is vital for its own security against a growing Russian threat.

"I voted for a change that will bring prosperity and not one that will bring adventure and discourage investment in Romania," he said. "I voted for a European direction and for good collaboration with our European partners and not for an isolation of Romania. And I voted for a society in which we can have dialogue and not one in which we are divided."

But hard-right nationalist George Simion, who opposes military aid to neighbouring Ukraine and is critical of European Union leadership, decisively swept the first presidential election round, triggering the collapse of a pro-Western coalition government. That led to significant capital outflows.

An opinion poll on Friday (May 16) showed Dan slightly ahead of Simion for the first time since the first round in a tight race that will depend on turnout and the sizable Romanian diaspora.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: MOGOSOAIA, ROMANIA (MAY 18, 2025)(REUTERS - Access all)

1. ROMANIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, GEORGE SIMION ENTERING POLLING STATION WITH HIS WIFE ILINCA SIMION

2. VARIOUS OF SIMION REGISTERING TO VOTE

3. SIMION ENTERING POLLING BOOTH, COMING OUT OF POLLING BOOTH, CASTING HIS VOTE, ILINCA SIMION CASTING HER VOTE, CRISTELA GEORGESCU AND FAR-RIGHT POLITICIAN CALIN GEORGESCU CASTING THEIR VOTES

4. (SOUNDBITE)(Romanian) ROMANIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, GEORGE SIMION, SAYING:

"I voted against abuses and against poverty. I voted against those who disregard us all. But at the same time, I voted for our future, to be decided only by Romanians, for Romanians and for Romania. So help us God!"

5. CROWDS CHANTING (Romanian): "Calin Georgescu for president!"

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SHOWS: FAGARAS, ROMANIA (MAY 18, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF ROMANIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, NICUSOR DAN REGISTERING TO VOTE

2. DAN ENTERING VOTING BOOTH

3. DAN LEAVING VOTING BOOTH / DAN POSING FOR PHOTOS

4. DAN CASTING VOTE

5. DAN LEAVING POLLING STATION

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Romanian) BUCHAREST MAYOR AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, NICUSOR DAN, SAYING:

“I have voted with thought towards the many people who are silent, fair and hard-working, and who, for a lot of time, have not felt represented. Two weeks ago, Romanians voted for change. The question is, what sort of change, and I have voted for change which will bring prosperity, and not one which will bring adventure and the discourage investment in Romania. I voted for a European direction and for good collaboration with our European partners and not for an isolation of Romania. And I voted for a society in which we can have dialogue and not one in which we are divided.”

7. DAN SPEAKING

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BUCHAREST MAYOR AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, NICUSOR DAN, SAYING:

"There is a good hope for structural change but it depends what will happen today."

9. DAN LEAVING