Romanians vote in presidential election focused on high living costs, Ukraine war

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, the Social Democratic Party or PSD candidate in the country's presidential elections, casts his vote in Bucharest, Romania, on 24 November 2024. © Vadim Ghirda / AP

Romanians started voting on Sunday in the first round of a presidential election that may give hard-right politician George Simion a chance of winning, with voters focused on high living costs and the country's support for Ukraine.

Opinion surveys show leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, 56, leader of Romania's largest party, the Social Democrats, will make it into the run-off vote on 8 December, with Simion, 38, of the Alliance for Uniting Romanians the likely runner-up.