INSCOP Poll: Geoana Still Ranks 1st In The Presidential Elections, Sosoaca Outranks Simion And Ciuca

The Deputy General Secretary of NATO, Mircea Geoana, is once again in first place in voting intentions in this year’s presidential elections, with a percentage of 26.5% in the latest INSCOP survey.    Incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu ranks second, while the third and fourth places are occupied by Diana Sosoaca and Nicolae Ciuca. AUR chief George Simion ranks fifth in voting intentions. Voter turnout would be increased again in the presidential elections, with 64.4% of Romanians saying that they will “definitely” go to the polls.   If presidential elections were held next Sunday, among the 80.2% of Romanians who have a clear voting option, 24.6% would choose Mircea Geoana (independent candidate), 15.1% would give him the vote of Marcel Ciolacu (PSD) and 14.8% would put the vote stamp on Diana Sosoaca (SOS).   The ranking is followed by Nicolae Ciuca (PNL) with 10.8%, Victor Ponta (Pro Romania) with 10.7% and George Simion (AUR) with 10.4%. The ranking of voting options is completed by Catalin Drula (from the United Right Alliance) with 4.7%, Dacian Ciolos (REPER) with 4.1% and Hunor Kelemen (UDMR) with 3%. 1.7% of Romanians would choose another candidate.   In the version of candidates tested including in September and November 2023, if next Sunday they were called to vote for the new president of Romania, out of the 78.3% of Romanians who have a voting option, 26.5% would choose Mircea Geoana, independent candidate, (25.3% in September and 26.2% in November 2023), 18.9% would put their stamp on Marcel Ciolacu, candidate from PSD (19.5% in September and 20.8% in November 2023) and 14% on Diana Sosoaca, from SOS Romania (10.1% in September and 14.4% in November 2023).    In the ranking follows George Simion (AUR) with 13.3% (18.7% in September and 14% in November 2023), Nicolae Ciuca (PNL) with 11.4% (11.2% in September and 12.1% in November 2023), Catalin Drula (from the United Right Alliance) with 5.9% (5.6% in September and 4.2% in November 2023), Dacian Ciolos (REPER) with 5.1% (4.1 % in September and 3.9% in November 2023) and Kelemen Hunor (UDMR) with 3.6% (2.7% in September and 2.4% in November 2023). 1.3% of Romanians would choose another candidate (2.8% in September and 1.9% in November 2023).   “The voting intention in the presidential elections for the candidate version tested in September and November 2023 and repeated in January 2024 remains relatively constant, the changes being negligible. On the other hand, the introduction of a new candidate in the list, namely Victor Ponta (Pro Romania), changes the figures. The former prime minister, who maintains a high level of notoriety, seems to get the most votes from PSD candidates, Marcel Ciolacu and AUR, George Simon. Also, Mircea Geoana loses two points, the other candidates registering minimal changes in their voting intention. The presidential elections will be the main competition that will influence the 2024 electoral year, which is why the nomination of candidates could play an essential role in calibrating the performance of the parties in the European, local and parliamentary elections”, explained Remus Stefureac, director general of INSCOP.