By Luiza Ilie, Libby George and Gergely SzakacsBUCHAREST/LONDON (Reuters) -Romania's central bank said on Tuesday it was looking for the "optimal way" to counter significant capital outflows amid steep falls in the leu currency after a hard-right opposition leader won the first round of a repeat presidential election.

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.

George Simion, leader of the hard-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, has emerged as the clear frontrunner in Romania’s presidential election redo, securing 40.5 per cent of the vote with nearly all ballots counted.

Romania faces a wave of online disinformation ahead of a presidential election runoff this month in which the hard-right looks poised for victory, election observers and analysts say.

Romania's previous presidential election was cancelled over allegations of campaign fraud and Russian interference.

Romania's presidential race has entered a pivotal phase after a stunning first-round result on Sunday, May 4, 2025. George Simion , leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), has emerged on top,