(Bloomberg) -- Romania will hold a repeat of last year’s contested presidential election on May 4, months after the country’s top court annulled the ballot over allegations of Russian meddling.
The Balkan nation’s coalition government, formed at the end of the year to try to stem the turmoil and fend off the far right, agreed on the date at a meeting on Wednesday in Bucharest. A second round will be held two weeks later if no candidate wins 50% of the vote, according to an e-mailed statement following the coalition meeting.
The contest will likely be a showdown between candidates who embrace Romania’s westward course as a European Union and NATO member — and surging far-right forces who have taken aim at the country’s liberal order.
Romania is still grappling with the fallout of the first round of the presidential vote last year, which saw pro-Russian fringe candidate Calin Georgescu emerge from obscurity to win the Nov. 24 ballot. The result was voided after local intelligence authorities cited a “massive” social media influence operation on his behalf.
The unprecedented decision triggered weeks of political upheaval and forced mainstream parties into a reckoning with the rising support of parties well outside the mainstream. It also cast doubt over the trajectory of the Black Sea nation, which has the European Union’s longest land border with Ukraine and which had been considered a reliable EU member state and US ally.
Whether Georgescu will be allowed to take part in the repeat of the election remains unclear. Any decision to exclude the independent candidate is likely to be fiercely contested.
Members of the governing coalition threw their support behind Crin Antonescu, a former leader of the junior partner Liberal Party, as the joint candidate. The ruling parties confirmed their plan to field a joint candidate, according to the statement.
Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, an independent, meanwhile threw his hat into the ring and cited the need for a credible alternative to the establishment. Either Antonescu or Dan may face a far-right candidate in the second round, according to polls.
Dan cited an internal survey showing that Georgescu remained a strong favorite to win a new presidential contest, though didn’t disclose any more details of the poll.
Romania’s president holds a largely ceremonial office, but is the commander-in-chief of the military and represents the country at NATO and EU summits. The head of state also nominates the prime minister in consultation with political parties.
--With assistance from Maxim Edwards.
(Updates with Romania’s political turmoil from third paragraph.)
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