Romanian writers, filmmakers call for pro-European presidential vote

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Dozens of leading writers, filmmakers and historians in Romania have written an open letter calling for voters to back a pro-European candidate against the far-right frontrunner in Sunday's re-run of Romania's presidential election.

The letter criticised "extremist" candidates without naming them, and was a clear attempt to persuade Romanians to turn out against rightwinger George Simion, who leads opinion polls for the first round ahead of two pro-European centrists. The top two candidates would face a run-off on May 18.

"Romanian society has lost its confidence in politics," the letter said. "Electing a president who is honest, credible, involved, pro-European and oriented towards substantial reforms, one who is not indebted to corrupt or extremist parties, is the first step out of the crisis."

Sunday's vote is being held five months after an original ballot was cancelled because of accusations of Russian interference, denied by Moscow, in favour of another far-right candidate, who won that first round and is now barred from standing.

"We should start fearing again the horrendous failure that Romania can suffer if we have an anti-European president after May 18," one of the signatories, writer Radu Vancu, told Reuters.

"With Simion as president Romania risks losing (its relevance in) the European Union, which is its best period in its entire history," Vancu said.

Simion opposes military aid to neighbouring Ukraine, is critical of the European Union's leadership and has supported U.S. President Donald Trump's Make America Great Again movement.

His main election rivals are former senator Crin Antonescu and Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan. Antonescu, 65, is backed by the three parties in the current pro-Western government. Dan, 55, is running as an independent on an anti-corruption platform. Both are pro-EU and NATO and back Ukraine.

A survey conducted by polling institute AtlasIntel and commissioned by news website www.hotnews.ro showed on Friday Simion was leading with 30.2% of votes, while Antonescu had 24.3% and Dan 22.4%. The poll surveyed 3,247 people from April 28 to May 1 and had a 2% error margin.

(Reporting by Luiza Ilie; Editing by Peter Graff)