Key occasions
Simion rejects go out ballot effects
But Dan’s rival, far-right George Simion isn’t prepared to simply accept those numbers.
In combating feedback after the outcome was once introduced, he rejects the go out polls and quotes his personal (unverified) information, claiming that he’s in fact forward, in a passionate victory speech.
Expect this to be an extended night time.
Romanians need ‘discussion, no longer hatred’ – Dan
In his quick feedback after the go out polls had been introduced, Nicusor Dan praises the “impressive strength” of the Romanian society that need “profound change” and says the victory displays Romanians sought after “dialogue, not hatred.”
High turnout a consider Romanian vote – snap research
Jon Henley
It’s most likely no longer that unexpected given huge 64.5% turnout, up from 53% within the first around. Analysts have all mentioned a better turnout would favour Dan.
But it’s price remembering the 1st around go out polls underestimated Simion via just about 10 issues.
They rely on electorate being truthful about who they voted for.

Jakub Krupa
That’s a better end result for Nicușor Dan than most likely anticipated. The turnout obviously performs a job right here, too.
But those are simply go out polls, and they don’t appear to account for the a very powerful diaspora vote.
Second go out ballot CURS:
Nicușor Dan 54.1%
George Simion 45.9%
Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan heading in the right direction to win in Romania – go out ballot
Exit ballot Avangarde:
Nicușor Dan 54.9%
George Simion 45.1%
Romanian go out polls are anticipated imminently.
Ready?
Keep an eye fixed on Romanian diaspora vote

Jon Henley
A key level to stay up for because the Romanian effects begin to come in after polling stations shut at 9pm native time (8pm CET) will likely be the vote of the rustic’s massive diaspora, which within the first around two weeks in the past voted greater than 60% for Simion.
Over the previous couple of many years virtually 20% of Romania’s inhabitants have long past searching for higher alternatives in another country and estimates of the present diaspora start at about 4 million. By 7pm native time, the astonishingly prime collection of 1.6 million already had solid their votes, together with greater than 260,000 in the United Kingdom.
“The diaspora has been strongly anti-system for some time, which now means they are strongly far-right,” mentioned Cristian Pirvelescu, head of the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration in Bucharest.
“In Italy, where the Romanian community is more than 1 million, nearly 75% voted for Simion in the first round. Romanians abroad live in what is a kind of ‘virtual Romania’, very online, and they don’t believe in the traditional media.”
The far-right candidate additionally did smartly in Germany and Spain, that have massive Romanian communities. “Their vote is a protest vote against the traditional parties, which are seen as corrupt,” mentioned the Sciences-Po researcher Antonela Cappelle-Pogacean.
“It’s also a vote with socioeconomic motivations, since in these western societies, the Romanian diaspora is largely working-class. Finally, it’s also a vote about identity – they are in a way torn between their rebuilt lives and desire to return to Romania.”
In central and japanese Europe – international locations similar to Poland, Moldova and Hungary – the pro-European candidate, Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan, completed first, in all probability reflecting Simion’s opposition to sending additional army help to Ukraine. There are greater than 900 polling stations in another country, with vote casting allowed over 3 days.
Whatever its motivations, the diaspora vote – most likely greater than 1 million ballots, up to 10% of the first-round overall – can obviously swing a good election. And complicating issues additional, few Romanian opinion polls, which can be in spite of everything no longer particularly correct, try to expect it.
Interestingly, on the other hand, one ballot this week that did come with electorate dwelling in another country confirmed Simion and Dan neck-and-neck. Turnout at house and in another country, all observers agree, will likely be serious on Sunday, with a better participation fee observed as favouring Dan.
Romanian go out polls anticipated quickly
To make issues extra difficult, Romanian media reported that there are as many as 3 firms doing go out polls this night.
With the race being so shut, it is also perfect to attend a bit of till we make any resolution at the end result, however we can carry you them as they drop.
And there may be yet another component within the Romanian vote that we want to keep watch over and that makes issues extra difficult, and that it’s the (extremely prime) collection of diaspora electorate.
Over to Jon Henley to provide an explanation for.
Romanian applicants discuss of ‘a very powerful’ election to come to a decision nation’s long term

Jon Henley
Both applicants within the Romanian election clearly have lengthy solid their votes.
“This is a turning point, a crucial election,” the Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan mentioned as he solid his poll, including that he voted “for a European direction … not Romania’s isolation”.
His far-right rival, George Simion, mentioned he “voted against the inequalities and injustices done to the Romanian people” and “for our future to be decided by Romanian people”.
‘Pivotal’ presidential run-off in Romania – explainer

Jon Henley
Romanians are vote casting in a pivotal presidential run-off that might radically modify their nation’s strategic alignment and financial possibilities.
The Romanian contest, probably the most consequential of the 3, pits a brash, EU-critical, Trump-admiring populist, Georgie Simion, in opposition to a centrist impartial, Nicușor Dan, in a knife-edge vote that analysts have referred to as maximum vital within the nation’s post-communist historical past.
Recent polls have proven the space between the 2 applicants last, with one hanging them neck and neck and any other striking Dan – who has described the vote as a combat between “a pro-western and an anti-western Romania” – forward.
The vote is a rerun of closing November’s poll, gained via a far-right, Moscow-friendly firebrand, Călin Georgescu, who was once barred from status once more after the vote was once cancelled amid allegations of marketing campaign finance violations and Russian meddling.
Simion has promised to appoint Georgescu, who’s beneath formal investigation on counts together with misreporting marketing campaign spending, unlawful use of virtual era and selling fascist teams, as top minister if he turns into president.
Romanian presidents have a semi-executive function with really extensive powers over overseas coverage, nationwide safety, defence spending and judicial appointments. They too can dissolve parliament if MPs reject two top ministerial nominations.

Jakub Krupa
We get started the night time in Romania, so let’s cross directly to Jon Henley to briefly carry us up-to-the-minute on what’s at stake this night.
Welcome to Super Sunday

Jakub Krupa
Dobry wieczór, boa noite, bună seara,
or just just right night time and welcome to our reside protection of Super Sunday in Europe with a very powerful elections in Poland, Portugal, and Romania.
It’s Jakub Krupa right here, in Warsaw, to steer you thru this night’s go out polls, snap reactions and early effects coming from the 3 EU international locations.
We will get started with Romania the place the polls will shut in about part an hour – 7pm BST, 8pm CEST, 9pm native time – adopted via Poland and Portugal an hour later.
Romanians are vote casting in a pivotal presidential run-off that might radically modify their nation’s strategic alignment and financial possibilities.
The election pits a brash, EU-critical, Trump-admiring populist, George Simion, in opposition to centrist impartial Bucharest mayor Nicuşor Dan in a knife-edge vote that analysts have referred to as maximum vital within the nation’s post-communist historical past.
We will later transfer to Poland for the 1st around of the presidential election there which generally is a pivotal second for the rustic’s coalition executive, and to Portugal which hosts its 3rd election in 3 years.
It might take a short while prior to we get any conclusive effects despite the fact that as margins are anticipated to be quite skinny.
But, however, however – don’t concern! We will carry you all of the key updates: beginning with go out polls, thru snap reactions and overdue polls, all of the option to first analyses and legit effects.
I’ll carry you updates from our correspondents throughout Europe, together with Jon Henley and Sam Jones who adopted the campaigns in Romania and Portugal, and Jennifer Rankin in Brussels.
Ready? Let’s cross.