Correspondence from Bucharest: Romania elects its president – Vote of the Diaspora is important
Romanians face a challenging task today, as 14 candidates are competing for the presidency at Cotroceni Palace. This count is effectively 13, considering the recent withdrawal of Ludovic Orban, who will still appear on the ballot papers. Polls show that the top five candidates have a chance of advancing to the second round, which will take place in two weeks. Additionally, parliamentary elections are scheduled for the following week.
The 18,900 polling stations across the country opened at 7:00 AM and will close at 9:00 PM, when the first exit poll results will be released. These preliminary polls will provide a forecast of the results from the first round.
As in prior elections, the diaspora vote is expected to play a crucial role in the overall election outcome. Nearly one million Romanian citizens eligible to vote are anticipated to participate in the polls, which began for the diaspora on Friday.
In the Republic of Moldova, voting in the Romanian presidential elections has also been ongoing for the third consecutive day. There are 59 polling stations across the country, which is seven more than during this year's European Parliament elections, when about 57,000 Romanian citizens cast their votes in Moldova.
According to Romanian authorities, citizens who turn 18 by election day can participate. Voters must present a valid identity document issued by the Romanian state. Those voting abroad can cast their votes at any polling station designated for the diaspora.
By 1:00 PM, nearly 4 million Romanians had already voted, which is a slightly lower turnout than in the 2019 presidential election. Regarding candidates’ statements at the polls, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu of the Social Democrats expressed his desire for “an economically strong Romania, with a significant voice in the world, where citizens can lead decent lives.”
PNL President Nicolae Ciucă said that he voted for "prosperity, security, and democracy." Meanwhile, USR Leader Elena Lasconi said that she voted "with the hope that no one will feel the need to leave for another country, where state institutions function better."
Independent candidate Mircea Geoană emphasized, “Today, we are not only choosing a president, but also a direction for the country.” Independent candidate Cristian Diaconescu noted, “We are facing a turning point,” while former President Traian Băsescu called for voters to come to the polls and make their voices heard.
Leader of AUR George Simion voted in the diaspora at the Romanian Consulate in Rome, describing it as an act of “respect for Romania.”
