Episode 454: Weekend Ballot Results: Europe Votes Amid Russian Pressure

Today, Jess, Morgan, and Andy unpack weekend elections in Romania, Poland, and Portugal—where voters are navigating domestic frustrations, regional security fears, and the specter of Russian influence. In Romania, centrist Nicușor Dan defeated far-right nationalist George Simion with a pro-EU, anti-corruption message. Poland will head into a June presidential election runoff between centrist Rafal Trzaskowski and far-right challenger Karol Nawrocki, while in Portugal, a far-right party surged to 20%, shaking up the political landscape.

Are these results driven by domestic political pressures—or do they reflect a broader European response to the war in Ukraine? Is European support for Ukraine holding strong, or is it increasingly tied to who’s in power in Washington? And how do concerns about ballot access and disinformation shape the future of European democracy?

Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.

Check out the sources that helped shape our experts’ opinions. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c74q57kydget

https://www.npr.org/2025/05/17/nx-s1-5400392/elections-in-poland-and-romania-could-shape-the-future-of-europe-and-ukraine

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/romanians-vote-presidential-run-off-that-could-widen-eu-rifts-2025-05-17/ 

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@NotTVJessJones

@morganlroach

@AndyKeiser

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