Romanians return to polls in rerun

ROMANIANS returned to the polls yesterday in a rerun of November's annulled presidential election that left the country in deep political turmoil, as a far-right candidate again is expected to win the first round.

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The Constitutional Court cancelled last year's vote won by Nato critic Calin Georgescu, who has been barred from the rerun, with fellow far-right politician George Simion now looking like the favourite.

Georgescu was excluded from the rerun as authorities noted a massive Tik Tok campaign and issued claims of Russian interference, sparking sometimes violent protests.

He has been replaced by Simion, leader of the nationalist AUR party, who is one of 11 presidential hopefuls vying for the largely ceremonial but influential foreign policy post in yesterday's first round.

An avowed fan of Donald Trump, Simion is often seen wearing a cap with the US president's slogan "Make America Great Again". He says he hopes to become Romania's "Maga president".