As Romanian voters prepare to head to the polls this Sunday for the first round of the country's presidential election, Romania is at a crossroads.

The election of a new president has been mired in controversy for several months. Sunday's poll will be a rerun of the first round that was held last November and was subsequently annulled by Romania's Constitutional Court after the winner, Calin Georgescu, was disqualified due to alleged foreign interference via social media. 

Georgescu has been banned from running this time round.

Amid a surge in disinformation and uncertainty, voters now have to choose from a field of candidates that includes nationalists, pro-EU politicians, independents, party veterans, reformers and traditionalists.

Romania is a democratic, semi-presidential representative republic, which means that the role of president is much more than ceremonial. Romania's president is responsible for foreign policy, approves laws passed by parliament and is the commander-in-chief of the army.

In short, Sunday's election is of massive importance for the future of the country. Romanians now face a critical choice: Will the country stay its pro-EU, pro-NATO course? And who will lead the country going forward?