France, May 14 -- Far-right candidate George Simion, who took the lead in the first round of the Romanian parliamentary elections on 4 May, will face off against the centrist mayor of Bucharest, Nicușor Dan, in the second round on Sunday. The election is a re-run, after November 2024's vote was annulled. RFI spoke to political scientist Sergiu Miscoiu from the Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca about this hotly contested ballot.
Simion, a former football hooligan, is known for his fiery speeches and his admiration for US President Donald Trump. He won a comfortable 40.9 percent in the first round. If he wins the second round, his victory could have a significant impact on the country's relationship with the EU and NATO.
His rival...