Hard-right candidate secures decisive win in Romania's presidential vote
Mr Simion, the 38-year-old leader of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), was well ahead with 40.5% of the vote after 99% of votes were counted from Sunday's vote.
Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan was trailing in second with 20.89%, with the governing coalition's joint candidate, Crin Antonescu, in third with 20.34%.
Mr Antonescu conceded defeat, saying he believes it is an 'irreversible result.'
Eleven candidates vied for the presidency and a runoff will be held on May 18 between the top two candidates.
By the time polls closed, about 9.57 million people — or 53.2% of eligible voters — had cast their ballots, according to the Central Election Bureau, with 973,000 votes cast at polling stations set up in other countries.
The rerun was held after a top court voided the previous election in which the far-right outsider Calin Georgescu topped the first round, following allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference, which Moscow has denied.
In a pre-recorded speech aired after polls closed, Mr Simion said that despite many obstacles, Romanians 'have risen up' and 'we are approaching an exceptional result.'
'I am here to restore constitutional order,' said Mr Simion, who came fourth in last year's race and later backed Mr Georgescu.
'I want democracy, I want normalcy, and I have a single objective: to give back to the Romanian people what was taken from them and to place at the centre of decision-making the ordinary, honest, dignified people.'
Mr Georgescu, who appeared alongside Mr Simion at a polling station on Sunday in the capital Bucharest called the vote rerun 'a fraud orchestrated by those who have made deceit the only state policy,' but said he was there to 'acknowledge the power of democracy, the power of the vote that frightens the system, that terrifies the system'.
The presidential role carries a five-year term and significant decision-making powers in national security and foreign policy.
The decision to annul the election and the ban on Mr Georgescu's candidacy drew criticism from US vice president JD Vance, Elon Musk and Russia, which publicly supported his candidacy in the rerun.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Western Telegraph
24 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
Ballymena violence after alleged sex attack was ‘racist thuggery', police say
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the force would have a significant operation in place over the coming days in case there was any repeat of the disturbances on Monday night in the Co Antrim town. The Prime Minister's official spokesman described the events which saw police and ethnic minorities targeted as 'very concerning'. The Police Service of Northern Ireland strongly condemns the disorder on the streets of Ballymena last night, Monday 9th June: — Police Mid and East Antrim (@PSNIMEADistrict) June 10, 2025 At Clonavon Terrace, several houses had their windows smashed and two which suffered significant smoke damage remained sealed off on Tuesday. The violence flared following an earlier peaceful protest in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the town at the weekend. Two 14-year-old boys appeared in court on Monday charged with attempted rape. The charges were read to the teenagers by a Romanian interpreter. After the later protest turned violent, police were attacked with petrol bombs and masonry. Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the attacks should be 'loudly condemned by all right thinking people'. 'Any attempt to justify or explain it as something else is misplaced,' he said at a press conference at Ballymena police station. ACC Ryan Henderson speaking to the media following a protest in Ballymena over an alleged sexual assault in the Co Antrim town (Jonathan McCambridge/PA) He said that members of the minority ethnic community 'felt fear' and there will be a significant policing operation in the town in the coming days to reassure the community. He said one arrest has been made and more will follow, as video and online footage is examined. 'I would strongly urge anyone who was involved in yesterday's disorder to reflect long and hard about their actions, they will have consequences,' he said. Mr Henderson said that police officers from England and Wales will be brought to Northern Ireland if needed to help the PSNI in the wake of the Ballymena disorder. He said: 'Should I need any additionality, I'm absolutely assured that my colleagues in policing in England and Wales, the National Police Operation Centre, stand fast and ready to support should we need that support.' The senior officer said police did not have specific intelligence that there would be a repeat of the violent scenes, but said a significant policing operation would be in place. A PSNI spokesperson said: 'At around 7.30pm, a planned vigil gathered in the Galgorm Road area before making its way towards Larne Street, onto Wakehurt Road and then down Queen Street. 'The vigil was initially peaceful as it made its way towards the Clonavon Terrace area of Ballymena. 'Officers were present at the vigil to ensure an appropriate and proportionate policing response, due to the large number of people who had gathered in the area. 'A number of masked individuals then broke away from the vigil and began to build barricades, stockpiling missiles and attacking properties in the Clonavon Terrace area. 'Elements of the crowd then turned on to police and attacked officers with petrol bombs and masonry. 'This disorder was sustained and continued in the vicinity of Galgorm Street, Linenhall Street and Larne Road Link in the vicinity of the Braid.' A view of a damaged police car outside Ballymena Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) station (Jonathan McCambridge/PA) The statement added: 'Police officers came under sustained attack over a number of hours with multiple petrol bombs, fireworks, heavy masonry and bricks thrown in their direction by masked rioters. 'Fifteen officers were injured with some requiring hospital treatment. 'Two police vehicles were also damaged during the disorder. 'A number of homes and businesses were damaged with windows and doors smashed. Four houses were damaged by fire with three people evacuated. 'The attacks on these properties are being investigated as racially motivated hate attacks. 'Windows were also smashed of several business units in Galgorm Parks in the early hours. 'In total, six properties in Clonavon Terrace have sustained damage to windows and doors during the disorder. 'During the course of the serious disorder, authorised police officers discharged one Attenuating Energy Projectile (AEP) with one rioter struck. 'A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of riotous and disorderly behaviour, attempted criminal damage and resisting police. He remains in police custody at this time.' As part of ongoing inquiries, police are also investigating a report of arson at the Tobar Park area of Cullybackey in the early hours of Tuesday. Shortly after 12.20am, it was reported that a petrol bomb had been thrown at a vehicle in the area which set it alight. Damage was caused to a nearby property, with a woman and two children inside. Downing Street said there could be no justification for the violence in Ballymena. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'The disorder we saw in Ballymena is very concerning. 'Obviously, the reports of sexual assault in the area are extremely distressing, but there is no justification for attacks on police officers while they continue to protect local communities. 'PSNI and the justice system must be allowed to carry out their jobs and our thoughts are with the victims of the assault as well as the police officers who were injured.'
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Clean-up under way in Ballymena as ‘appalling' disorder condemned
Justice Minister Naomi Long said there can be 'no justification' for such 'appalling' scenes and police have appealed for calm following the disruption in the Co Antrim town. Along Clonavon Terrace, six houses had their windows smashed in and two of those have been taped off after suffering significant fire damage. A Romanian mother of three, who lived in one of the targeted houses, told the PA news agency that she is scared to stay in the area and her children were asking why they were being attacked. Local MP Jim Allister said tensions had been growing in the town over immigration, adding that the violence followed a peaceful protest in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged sexual assault in the town at the weekend. Two 14-year-old boys appeared in court on Monday charged with attempted rape. The charges were read to the teenagers by a Romanian interpreter. Monday's violence occurred in the Clonavon Terrace area with social media footage showing protesters burning plastic road barriers and bins as part of a barricade on the street. Some masked individuals also threw missiles including cans of paint and glass bottles at PSNI vehicles. A line of police vehicles advanced towards the protesters followed by officers on foot. Firefighters later responded to the burning debris on the road and inspected a nearby house which had filled with smoke. Other footage appeared to show some protesters targeting houses by smashing windows. Tensions which erupted into violence on the streets of Ballymena have been building for some time, North Antrim MP Jim Allister has said. TUV leader Mr Allister said: 'Within Ballymena there has been rising concerns about the sheer scale of migration into the town and that would have been a factor in the wholly peaceful protest. 'All that to be distinguished from the wanton violence which then followed, with obviously a minority of that peaceful crowd wanting to take advantage of that to visit violence which wasn't wanted or warranted, hence the scenes that we saw. 'It is very distressing to see scenes of violence on the streets of Ballymena.' Mr Allister said tensions have been building in the town 'for a considerable period of time'. He added: 'It is easier to start than to stop these things. There has been a bit of authorities not wanting to face up to the racial background of some of this over the years. 'That unchecked migration which is beyond what the town can cope with, is a source of past and future tensions; that is the reality of it.' 'Those who came onto the street last night in the main had a perfectly legitimate purpose and cause of being there.' Mr Allister said he had spoken to the family of the girl who was the victim of the alleged sexual assault and they did not want to see violent scenes. He said: 'Sadly the narrative has been diverted, and it has been diverted by those who wrongly and foolishly involved in violence and made the story something that what it otherwise should be. 'My message is the violence should stop. The concerns are there, I am certainly aware of them, I hear them and there needs now to be a period of calm and justice needs to take its course.' Ms Long said: 'I am absolutely appalled by the disturbing scenes in Ballymena yesterday evening during which PSNI officers were injured, residents terrorised, and properties damaged. 'There is absolutely no place in our society for such disorder and there can be no justification for it. 'I would appeal to those involved to seriously consider their actions and step back from this behaviour before someone is seriously injured or worse. 'Attacking homes and police officers serves no purpose other than to damage communities and raise tensions. Those involved will be pursued and held accountable for their actions. 'I have conveyed to the PSNI my best wishes to the injured officers for a speedy recovery. 'I am also calling on community and political leaders and all those with influence to condemn this violence and work with the police and community to quell any further disorder or violence.' In a statement on Monday night, the PSNI said a number of missiles had been thrown towards police with damage reported to a number of properties. It said officers would remain in the area to monitor the situation. Chief Superintendent Sue Steen said: 'We are urging everyone to remain calm and to act responsibly. Violence and disorder will only place people at greater risk. 'Our priority is to keep the community safe, and I would appeal to everyone to work with us to bring calm to the area as quickly as possible.' The PSNI asked anyone with information to contact them on 101 or online via Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Sick 'pimping websites' given four-word warning as MPs demand new laws
Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips says tough new laws will give courts the power to suspend adult service sites behind sexual exploitation as MPs demand paying for sex is made illegal Vile "pimping websites" have been warned "we're coming for you" by a government minister. Jess Phillips said it was "sickening" that traffickers are making huge profits from selling exploited women for sex online. The Safeguarding Minister said new laws will give authorities the power to ban adult services sites that facilitate sex trafficking. But she stopped short of pledging to make it illegal to pay for sex despite growing calls from MPs. The Government is under pressure to change the law to target buyers and those who profit from exploiting others - while ripping up existing prostitution offences. Ms Phillips told MPs it is "utterly dispicable" that men post online reviews of women who are coerced into having sex. She said: "These men disgust me with their attitude towards women generally and also the suggestion that they should be able to pay for somebody's horror and then give a bad review." Brits should learn to speak Russian if defence spending isn't ramped up, NATO chief warns And Ms Phillips continued: "These sites - we know what they are - we're coming for you." She said legslation going through Parliament will allow courts to suspend websites behind sexual exploitation. And she said the Government will be publishing its strategy for tackling violence against women and girls later this year. The remarks came after Labour backbencher Tracy Gilbert read out a number of sickening reviews posted about women online. Under current law it is legal to pay for sex and adult services websites - branded " supermarkets of the vulnerable" by ctitics - are not breaking the law. Ms Gilbert told MPs that those who pay for sex must face prosecution. She said: "Sex buyers rely on being unseen while they ruin lives leaving us as a society and the individual women left to pick up the pieces of the carnage they cause. "The demand from men who pay for sex fuel a brutal prostitution and sex trafficking trade. It's funding predatory websites which make millions of pounds using women for sexual exploitation every day." And the Labour MP added: "The law must accept that prostitution is is violence against women." It comes after Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi tabled amendments to the landmark Crime and Policing Bill calling for those who pay for sex - predominently men - to face prosecution. Her proposals, backed by more than 50 MPs, would also tear up prostitution offences, which campaigners say trap exploited women from escaping their abusers.
