Mayor of Bucharest Nicusor Dan talks to the media after casting his ballot during the first round of the presidential election rerun at a polling station in Bucharest, Romania, May 4, 2025. Romanians headed to the polls on Sunday for the first round of the presidential election rerun contested by 11 candidates. According to the Permanent Electoral Authority of Romania, over 18 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballots at around 19,000 polling stations, including over 960 abroad, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time (0400 to 1800 GMT). (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)
BUCHAREST, May 4 (Xinhua) -- Exit polls showed that George Simion, chairman of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians, took the lead in the first round of the Romanian presidential election rerun on Sunday.
According to the exit polls conducted by the Center for Urban and Regional Sociology (CURS), Simion garnered 33.1 percent of the vote, followed by Crin Antonescu of the electoral alliance Romania Forward with 22.9 percent and Mayor of Bucharest Nicusor Dan, an independent candidate, with 20.9 percent.
In another exit poll carried out by the AVANGARDE Socio-Behavioral Studies Group, Simion secured 30 percent of the vote while Antonescu and Dan both had 23 percent.
According to the Permanent Electoral Authority of Romania, over 18 million voters registered for this election. Romania's president serves a five-year term, with a maximum of two consecutive terms allowed.
Under the Romanian Constitution, if no candidate secures an outright majority in the first round, a runoff will be held between the top two contenders in two weeks.
Romania's presidential election held last November was annulled following allegations of irregular campaigning practices and foreign interference. ■
Mayor of Bucharest Nicusor Dan votes during the first round of the presidential election rerun at a polling station in Bucharest, Romania, May 4, 2025. Romanians headed to the polls on Sunday for the first round of the presidential election rerun contested by 11 candidates.
According to the Permanent Electoral Authority of Romania, over 18 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballots at around 19,000 polling stations, including over 960 abroad, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time (0400 to 1800 GMT). (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)
A woman votes during the first round of the presidential election rerun at a polling station in Bucharest, Romania, May 4, 2025. Romanians headed to the polls on Sunday for the first round of the presidential election rerun contested by 11 candidates.
According to the Permanent Electoral Authority of Romania, over 18 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballots at around 19,000 polling stations, including over 960 abroad, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time (0400 to 1800 GMT). (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)
Presidential candidate Crin Antonescu votes during the first round of the presidential election rerun at a polling station in Bucharest, Romania, May 4, 2025. Romanians headed to the polls on Sunday for the first round of the presidential election rerun contested by 11 candidates.
According to the Permanent Electoral Authority of Romania, over 18 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballots at around 19,000 polling stations, including over 960 abroad, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time (0400 to 1800 GMT). (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)
A woman votes during the first round of the presidential election rerun at a polling station in Bucharest, Romania, May 4, 2025. Romanians headed to the polls on Sunday for the first round of the presidential election rerun contested by 11 candidates.
According to the Permanent Electoral Authority of Romania, over 18 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballots at around 19,000 polling stations, including over 960 abroad, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time (0400 to 1800 GMT). (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)
Voters cast their ballots during the first round of the presidential election rerun at a polling station in Bucharest, Romania, May 4, 2025. Romanians headed to the polls on Sunday for the first round of the presidential election rerun contested by 11 candidates.
According to the Permanent Electoral Authority of Romania, over 18 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballots at around 19,000 polling stations, including over 960 abroad, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time (0400 to 1800 GMT). (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)
A man votes during the first round of the presidential election rerun at a polling station in Bucharest, Romania, May 4, 2025. Romanians headed to the polls on Sunday for the first round of the presidential election rerun contested by 11 candidates.
According to the Permanent Electoral Authority of Romania, over 18 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballots at around 19,000 polling stations, including over 960 abroad, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time (0400 to 1800 GMT). (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)
Mayor of Bucharest Nicusor Dan votes during the first round of the presidential election rerun at a polling station in Bucharest, Romania, May 4, 2025. Romanians headed to the polls on Sunday for the first round of the presidential election rerun contested by 11 candidates.
According to the Permanent Electoral Authority of Romania, over 18 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballots at around 19,000 polling stations, including over 960 abroad, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time (0400 to 1800 GMT). (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)
Voting announcements are seen at the entrance of a polling station during the first round of the presidential election rerun in Bucharest, Romania, May 4, 2025. Romanians headed to the polls on Sunday for the first round of the presidential election rerun contested by 11 candidates.
According to the Permanent Electoral Authority of Romania, over 18 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballots at around 19,000 polling stations, including over 960 abroad, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time (0400 to 1800 GMT). (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)
A man votes during the first round of the presidential election rerun at a polling station in Bucharest, Romania, May 4, 2025. Romanians headed to the polls on Sunday for the first round of the presidential election rerun contested by 11 candidates.
According to the Permanent Electoral Authority of Romania, over 18 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballots at around 19,000 polling stations, including over 960 abroad, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time (0400 to 1800 GMT). (Photo by Cristian Cristel/Xinhua)
