By Iulian Ernst in Bucharest George Simion, leader of the nationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), secured a decisive lead in the first round of Romania’s presidential elections held on May 4,

The nationalist chief vociferously supports Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni — and he leads the presidential race ahead of May 18’s critical second round.

George Simion, leader of the far-right party Alliance for the Union of Romanians, easily dominated the first round of the presidential elections, both in the diaspora and nationally. Around 53% of the nearly 18 million voters in Romania cast a vote on Sunday,