George Simion, a nationalist and vocal supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, has won Romania’s first-round presidential election after capitalizing on widespread anti-establishment sentiment.

Far-right leader George Simion was the clear winner of the first round of Romania’s presidential election vote, and will face a pro-EU centrist in the run-off on May 18. With nearly 99 per cent of domestic votes and more than 80 per cent of diaspora votes counted late on Sunday,

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu resigned on Monday, a day after a far-right opposition leader won the first round of the presidential election re-run and his own candidate crashed out of the race.

Marcel Ciolacu announced his resignation on Monday, saying his ruling coalition has lost legitimacy after EU critic George Simion's first-round win, deepening turmoil ahead of the May 18 runoff.

Romania’s hard-right nationalist George Simion will face a pro-Western reformist in a pivotal runoff in two weeks after decisively winning the most votes in the first round of the presidential electio