BUCHAREST (Reuters) -Romania's hard-right presidential frontrunner George Simion "categorically" ruled out tax hikes if he wins election, but offered no alternative to cutting the European Union's largest budget deficit and avoiding a ratings downgrade.

After decisively winning the most votes in Romania's first-round presidential election redo, hard-right nationalist George Simion will face a pro-Western reformist in a pivotal runoff in two weeks that could reshape the European Union and NATO member country's geopolitical direction.

George Simion, leader of the hard-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, has emerged as the clear frontrunner in Romania’s presidential election redo, securing 40.5 per cent of the vote with nearly all ballots counted.