ROMANIANS cast their votes today in a tense presidential runoff that could determine the country's alignment with the European Union and Nato. 

The contest pitted far-right nationalist George Simion against pro-EU incumbent Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan.

Mr Simion, 38, is the leader of the hard-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), a party that has surged in popularity amid growing anti-Establishment sentiment. 

Mr Dan, running on a centrist pro-Western platform, has served as mayor of the capital since 2020.

Polls opened at 7am and closed at 9pm local time. 

By 3pm, more than 7.6 million people — about 42 per cent of eligible voters — had cast their ballots, according to official data. 

The election followed a constitutional crisis sparked by the annulment of last year’s vote. 

The country’s top court voided the previous election results with controversial claims of an ”online influence” operation funded from Moscow having duped voters, something Moscow denies.

Support for nationalist and anti-establishment figures like Mr Simion has been fuelled by years of discontent with political leaders and fears over national identity and sovereignty, echoing broader far-right trends across Europe.

Official results are expected later this week.