The second round on May 18 will pit hard-right leader George Simion against independent Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan, sidelining Romania’s establishment parties entirely.
Ciolacu himself ran for president in last year’s annulled election. His campaign was criticized for his use of luxury planes, and he placed third, with less than a fifth of the vote. He offered his resignation then but ultimately remained in his post.
In an interview with POLITICO before the election, Simion predicted that the prime minister would have to go if the establishment parties flopped again — and he has touted Călin Georgescu, the disqualified winner of last November’s cancelled election, for the role.
This story is being updated.