site.btaUPDATED With All Protocols Processed in Romania’s Presidential Election, Simion Leads with 41%, Dan Follows at 21%, Heading to Runoff

With all protocols processed in the first round of Romania's presidential elections, George Simion, the leader of the far-right opposition Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), wins 40.96% of the votes, said the election authorities quoted by the Romanian service of Radio Free Europe.  Nicusor Dan, the independent candidate and current mayor of Bucharest, comes second with 20.99%.

That takes the two to runoffs on May 18.

The candidate of the ruling coalition, Crin Antonescu, comes third with 20.07% followed by Victor Ponta, with 13.05%. Elena Lasconi was backed by a mere 2.68% of the voters.

A total of 11 candidates ran in the election, which was a retake of the presidential vote after the Constitutional Court annulled the results from the first round of voting last year over suspicions of external interference in the process.