George Simion, a eurosceptic who has promised to put Romania first, won 40.9% of Sunday's vote and is expected to win a run-off vote on 18 May. Ciolacu, 57, only came to power in a pro-EU coalition after elections in 2024, although George Simion's far-right party along with two other groupings had attracted a third of the vote. He has said he wants an EU of strong, sovereign nations and his party has opposed supply weapons to Ukraine. Bolojan himself took on the role of interim president last February because of the scandal surrounding the annulment of the presidential vote. "I've seen the vote from yesterday, and that tells us the current coalition no longer has legitimacy in this form."