Romanians living abroad are poised to help usher the far right into power back home.
Nationalist firebrand George Simion stormed to first place in Sunday’s presidential vote, taking about 40 percent of the overall vote and securing his place in the runoff.
But his margin of victory among the diaspora was even wider, scoring the backing of more than 60 percent of Romanians abroad. The runner-up, centrist Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan, netted just 25 percent of the expat vote.
A potent cocktail of ultranationalist rhetoric, anti-establishment messaging and relentless TikTok campaigning helped Simion clean up abroad. And with less than two weeks before the second round of the election, that could propel him to the presidency.
“I don’t know if those in the diaspora understand that through their vote they can destroy this country,” renowned Romanian economist Cristian Păun warned local media Monday.Source: politico.eu
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