BUCHAREST – George Simion, leader of Romania’s far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), has won the first round of the country’s rerun Romania presidential election, securing 40.96% of the vote, with nearly all ballots counted. The rerun follows the annulment of the previous November election, after the Supreme Court confirmed evidence of Russian interference in support of a now-disqualified candidate.
Simion will face Nicușor Dan, the independent, pro-European mayor of Bucharest, in a decisive runoff on May 18. Dan placed second with 20.99%, narrowly edging out establishment-backed candidate Crin Antonescu.
Romania Election: Anti-Establishment Surge
Simion’s performance marks a major upheaval in Romanian politics, as both of the country’s main parties — the Social Democrats (PSD) and the Liberals (PNL) — failed to reach the runoff. Their joint candidate, Antonescu, came in third despite significant institutional support.
Winning in 36 of Romania’s 41 counties and dominating the European diaspora vote with 61%, Simion capitalized on widespread public dissatisfaction with the political establishment and framed his campaign as a patriotic movement to “restore Romania’s sovereignty.”
Romania Election: A Referendum on Romania’s Foreign Policy Path
The upcoming runoff is widely seen as a clash between opposing visions for Romania’s place in the world. Simion, a vocal admirer of Donald Trump and critic of the EU, has pledged to halt military aid to Ukraine and has floated Călin Georgescu — a controversial pro-Russian figure — as his future prime minister.
In contrast, Nicușor Dan has positioned himself as a defender of Romania’s pro-Western orientation, judicial independence, and EU membership. He called the second round “a choice between the Western future and Eastern regression.”
Romania Election: Key Endorsements and Voter Realignments Could Decide Runoff
With Victor Ponta, a sovereigntist former prime minister who captured 14% of the first-round vote, refusing to endorse either candidate, attention now turns to how PSD and PNL will respond. Dan will likely need explicit support from both parties to overcome Simion’s momentum.
Political observers note Simion’s ideological appeal to conservative PSD voters, especially those aligned with traditional Orthodox values and resistant to minority rights expansion.
European Far Right Celebrates Simion’s Rise
Simion’s victory was met with celebration by far-right leaders across Europe. Italy’s Matteo Salvini, Poland’s Mateusz Morawiecki, and France’s Marion Maréchal praised the result as a win for nationalist and euroskeptic forces in the EU.
Simion’s call for a “Melonisation of Europe” — referring to Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni — further cements his alignment with an emerging bloc of EU disruptors, including Hungary and Slovakia.
Romania Election: Uncertain Road Ahead
Despite his clear lead, Simion’s reluctance to engage in televised debates and continued alignment with Georgescu — who was central to the annulled November vote — could become liabilities in the final stretch. Dan, meanwhile, faces the steep challenge of uniting a fragmented centrist electorate in just two weeks.
Romania’s next president will shape not only domestic governance but also the country’s stance on Ukraine, EU voting, NATO cooperation, and democratic values at a critical moment for the region.
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