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PoliticsRomania

EU, NATO on ballot in Romania's rerun presidential election

April 30, 2025

The first round of Romania's presidential election — a rerun of the annulled 2024 poll — will take place on May 4. The vote is seen as a test of Romania's democratic resilience and alignment with EU and NATO values.

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As Romanian voters prepare to head to the polls this Sunday for the first round of the country's presidential election, Romania is at a crossroads.

The election of a new president has been mired in controversy for several months. Sunday's poll will be a rerun of the first round that was held last November and was subsequently annulled by Romania's Constitutional Court after the winner, Calin Georgescu, was disqualified due to alleged foreign interference via social media. 

Georgescu has been banned from running this time round.

Amid a surge in disinformation and uncertainty, voters now have to choose from a field of candidates that includes nationalists, pro-EU politicians, independents, party veterans, reformers and traditionalists.

Romania is a democratic, semi-presidential representative republic, which means that the role of president is much more than ceremonial. Romania's president is responsible for foreign policy, approves laws passed by parliament and is the commander-in-chief of the army.

In short, Sunday's election is of massive importance for the future of the country. Romanians now face a critical choice: Will the country stay its pro-EU, pro-NATO course? And who will lead the country going forward? 

A woman with long brown hair (Lavinia Pitu) smiles at the camera; in the background is a cityscape with buildings, church towers and a river.
Lavinia Pitu Video editor, investigative journalist, TV presenter