4 takeaways from Romania’s presidential debate – POLITICO

Candidates vying to become Romania’s next president faced off in a three-hour TV debate Monday evening, clashing on everything from the future of the conflict in neighboring Ukraine to gay couples’ rights and their country’s place in the European Union.

Citizens of the Eastern European country, part of NATO’s Eastern flank and a staunch Western ally, head to the polls this Sunday to elect a new president as the outgoing center-right incumbent Klaus Iohannis ends his second term and a decade in office. More than a dozen candidates are running to replace him.

The results of the presidential election, which is expected to go to a runoff on Dec. 8, and of the parliamentary election sandwiched in between, could determine whether Romania continues to support Ukraine’s fight against Russia or backs a cease-fire that would see Kyiv cede territory.