Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu surged ahead in the first round of the presidential election, garnering the most votes according to exit polls released on Sunday. Ciolacu captured 25% of the vote, positioning himself as the frontrunner in the upcoming second round on Dec. 8. Trailing closely behind him was centre-right candidate Elena Lasconi, who secured 18% of the vote, followed closely by two hard-right contenders, Calin Georgescu and George Simion, with 16% and 15% of the votes respectively.
The neck-to-neck competition presents a dynamic race in the upcoming second round, especially with the exclusion of votes from Romanians living abroad, who have the potential to sway the final result. Lasconi and Simion, both known for their popularity among Romanians abroad, could play a crucial role in determining the ultimate outcome.
While analysts had anticipated a second-round matchup between Ciolacu and Simion, the unexpected performance of Lasconi has added an element of unpredictability to the race. Ciolacu's emphasis on his experience in steering Romania through challenging times, particularly amid the conflict in Ukraine, has resonated with voters. However, the tough competition posed by Lasconi suggests a potential shift in dynamics for the upcoming round of the election.