If Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu is the favorite in Sunday’s election, he remains closely followed by the pro-Russian candidate of the AUR.
An electoral marathon awaits Romanian voters: they are called to the polls three Sundays in a row to elect their president, but also the representatives of the two chambers of parliament.
19 million voters are expected to vote in the first round of the presidential election, the second will be held on December 8.
During the first round of the presidential elections, no less than 14 candidates will compete. According to polls, five of them have a real chance of reaching the second round, which will take place on December 8.
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who heads the social democratic party, is given the favorite in the presidential election by polling institutes. He would be closely followed by George Simion, the leader of the far-right and pro-Russian party, AUR. Finally, the opposition party candidate, Elena Lasconi and the liberal Nicolae Ciuca, would compete for third place.
But in the voting booth, galloping inflation and low wages will undoubtedly weigh heavily on voters’ choices.
“It’s already difficult to have a favorite candidate when you don’t have much choice,” summarizes a student. “Necessity and the circumstances in which we find ourselves push us to opt for the lesser evil.”
“I haven’t decided yet,” says her friend. “I don’t have a favorite candidate. I don’t think I can have one. I don’t find any candidate interesting.”
“Today, I don’t think there is a candidate who is really up to the task,” said a passerby.
These elections could reinforce Romania, Ukraine’s ally, in its pro-European options, or on the contrary announce a withdrawal of identity which could benefit Moscow.