Romanian Prime Minister is ahead after the first round of the presidential election

(Bloomberg) — Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu was on track to win the first round of Romania’s presidential election and is likely to face Anti-Corruption Party leader Elena Lasconi in a runoff in two weeks.

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According to polls by broadcasters Digi 24 and Antena 3, the Social Democratic leader received about 25% of the vote on Sunday, and Lasconi came in second with 18%.

The forecasts suggest voters have rejected ultra-nationalist candidate George Simion, who has vowed to end Romania’s aid to Ukraine and has cited U.S. President-elect Donald Trump as his inspiration. Polls on the outcome of the election put him in fourth place. The two top winners go into the runoff.

The battle for second place was close, the gaps between the candidates were within the margin of error. Ultranationalist candidate Calin Georgescu came third with about 16%.

“What I can say after today’s vote is that democracy is strong in Romania,” Ciolacu said as the results were announced. “I will take this vote into account and speak to all candidates to collect their suggestions.”

Romania has parliamentary elections next week and a victory for Ciolacu would allow him to mobilize the Social Democrats to form the next government.

The Social Democrats and the Liberal Party of Romania, which had formed a unified coalition for the past three years, have stopped working together as they moved into campaign mode.

Allegation of fraud

Political polarization has fueled the rise of Simion’s Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, with which the main parties have refused to form a coalition.

Simion, who ranked second in pre-election polls, refused to accept predictions about the election outcome and claimed he had committed voter fraud.

The next government is likely to face a turbulent term in office, with the challenge of inflation and a surge in social spending, which is expected to lead to the European Union’s largest budget deficit this year.

The question of support for neighboring Ukraine will also play a major role for Romania, a country on the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The Romanian president holds a largely ceremonial role, but is commander in chief of the military and represents the country at NATO and European Union summits.

The contest follows a period of relative political calm in Romania, marked by a joint government between the main parties. Their pact put an end to a decade of political unrest and mass protests – and helped spur long-delayed infrastructure investments.

(Updates exit polls from third paragraph.)

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