BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Sitting at a desk inside Romania’s sprawling Parliament building in the capital, presidential front-runner George Simion accuses the current government of attacking democracy and says he is the only candidate who hasn't been tainted by holding power.

BUCHAREST (Reuters) -Romanian hard-right candidate George Simion was ahead in a presidential election first round, followed by centrist candidate Crin Antonescu, an exit poll showed on Sunday. A separate exit poll put Simion in first place and centrist candidates Antonescu and Nicusor Dan neck and neck in second.

Far-right candidate George Simion was declared the winner Monday in the first round of Romania's presidential election.