(Adnkronos) – May 18th will be a crucial date for Eastern Europe, with two countries bordering Ukraine facing presidential runoffs destined to radically change their foreign policy. In Romania, the far-right leader George Simion will challenge Nicusor Dan, the pro-European mayor of Bucharest, who in the first round obtained half of Simion’s votes. In Poland, in a duel that seems specular, Karol Nawrocki will have to overturn the predictions against the centrist mayor of Warsaw Rafal Trzaskowski, even with the symbolic support of Donald Trump, who met him at the White House last week.
Simion, a declared Eurosceptic inspired by Trump’s rhetoric, surprised everyone with a first-round victory, obtaining 41% of the votes. Supported by right-wing figures, including Nawrocki, Simion has exalted the link with Trump, which is reflected in his foreign policy positions, which aim for a distancing from the European Union. This mutual support between the two candidates has raised concern in Brussels, where there are fears of a possible departure of the two countries from European policies.
In Poland, Nawrocki, supported by the ruling PiS party, will try to counter the favorite Trzaskowski, currently ahead in the polls. Nawrocki met with Trump, who expressed his support for his campaign, shares with Simion a strong Euroscepticism and a conservative vision. Both ballots will be followed with great attention, as a victory for Simion or Nawrocki could mark the beginning of a more nationalist orientation in foreign policy, strengthening alliances with the United States and questioning the pro-European orientation of Romania and Poland.
