The front-runner in Romania's presidential election, George Simion, accuses the current government of attacking democracy and says he is the only candidate who hasn’t been tainted by holding power.

A George Simion victory could isolate Romania, erode private investment and destabilise NATO's eastern flank, where Ukraine is fighting a three-year-old Russian invasion, political observers say.

Far-right candidate George Simion was declared the winner Monday in the first round of Romania's presidential election.