Eurosceptic George Simion appeared on course for victory in the first round of Romania’s presidential election re-run on Sunday, exit polls showed, after a ballot seen as a test of the rise of Donald Trump-style nationalism in the European Union.

Nationalist candidate George Simion won the first round of Romania’s presidential election with some 40% of the vote, according to the preliminary results on Sunday. With 95.96% of votes counted, the race for second place — which will take the candidate to the runoff to face off against Simion in two weeks' time — between two pro-West candidates,

The nationalist chief vociferously supports Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni — and he leads the presidential race ahead of May 18’s critical second round.