Romania’s presidential race: Former NATO deputy chief Geoană and PM Ciolacu lead in new poll
<p>Former NATO deputy secretary general Mircea Geoană and prime minister Marcel Ciolacu lead in the latest presidential <a href="https://www.inscop.ro/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/19.09.2024-Sondaj-INSCOP-ILD-Partea-a-II-a-Alegeri-prezidentiale.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawFY1oBleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHVaACimEJYEogHpgUxMHKYTqhFwyIabKSFWh6bzeHvCpA2YQfwsb0LobUA_aem_H0G5dQxTBnnptLREhzjzVw" rel="noopener" target="_blank">poll</a> carried out by INSCOP Research for the Institute for Freedom and Democracy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mircea Geoană (independent) is polling at 21.4% in voting intentions for the first round of the presidential elections, followed closely by PM and Social Democrat (PSD) leader Marcel Ciolacu at 20.3%.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Next are USR president Elena Lasconi with a share of 14.2%, SOS Romania leader Diana Șoșoacă with 13.6%, AUR president George Simion - 12%, and Liberal (PNL) leader Nicolae Ciucă - 7.1%.</p>

<p>"The declared presence in the first round by those who choose a candidate is about 60% of the total population, which confirms the hypothesis that more citizens will vote in the presidential elections than in the local and European parliamentary elections," <a href="https://www.inscop.ro/septembrie-2024-sondaj-de-opinie-inscop-research-realizat-la-comanda-ild-partea-a-ii-a/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">said</a> INSCOP Research president Remus Ștefureac.</p>

<p>He also said that the high number of announced candidates leads to a fragmentation of the voting intention, and the presence of independent candidates "generates a new situation for Romania's recent democracy." Thus, he says, the first round competition will be much more contested than in other presidential elections.</p>

<p>In a Marcel Ciolacu vs Mircea Geoană scenario for the second round of the presidential elections, 47.8% of respondents said they would vote for the former NATO deputy secretary general and 34.2% for the current prime minister. Compared to the respondents who chose a candidate, 58.3% would vote for Mircea Geoană and 41.7% for Marcel Ciolacu.</p>

<p>INSCOP Research carried out the opinion poll between September 11-16 via the CATI (telephone interviews) method. Roughly 1,100 people participated in the survey.</p>

<p>The presidential elections will be held on November 24 and December 8.</p>

<p><i>irina.marica@romania-insider.com</i></p>

<p><i>(Photo source: Inquam Photos/George Calin)</i></p>