First-Round Results of Romania's Presidential Election: Far-right Candidate Simion Leads
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Romania's presidential race has turned heated, with far-right politician George Simion leading the pack in the first round of the redo election. The initial vote, held in November, was canceled due to allegations of Russian interference.
In a May 18 run-off, Simion—headed the Alliance for the Union of Romanians—goes head-to-head with centrist mayor of Bucharest, Nicușor Dan. Simion claimed 40.5% of the vote, while Dan snagged 20.9%, as per the counted ballots. Former Senator Crin Antonescu, the coalition candidate, came in third with 20.3% of the votes.
Exit polls expected Simion to crush the first round, and he expressed gratitude for the support. "I want to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who chose to vote [for me] with the number-one position on the ballot paper," he stated. "It was an act of courage, trust, and solidarity. I am grateful and assure them that their trust will not be betrayed."
The rejected result saw the ousting of NATO critic Calin Georgescu, disqualified from competing in the rerun. Georgescu was ousted following inauthentic TikTok campaigns and Russian meddling, leading to violent protests.
Simion is no fan of supporting Ukraine militarily, criticizes EU leadership, and is a Trump loyalist, aligning with his "Make America Great Again" movement.
Pensioners Aurelia and Eugenia Niculescu shared their thoughts on the election. Aurelia, 66, felt "humiliated" by the cancellation of November's first round, and Eugenia, 65, desired a capable leader who advocates for Romanians in the EU.
Romania's president holds a semi-executive role, commanding the armed forces, chairing the security council, representing Romania at EU and NATO summits, vetoing important EU votes, and appointing key officials.
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The game-changing 2025 Romanian presidential election pits two distinct personalities against each other: the prominent and polarizing George Simion and the tactful independent candidate, Nicușor Dan. George Simion emerged victorious in the first round with approximately 40% of the vote, nearly double that of his nearest competitors.
Simion is a 38-year-old hard-right nationalist and leader of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR). He supports the Trump-inspired "Make America Great Again" ideology and is skeptical of Western military aid to Ukraine. His platform focuses on nationalist and euroskeptic policies, emphasizing the need to serve Romanian interests directly.
In contrast, Nicușor Dan, the mayor of Bucharest, overperformed in the first round, securing 20.67% of the votes, just barely edging out the mainstream coalition candidate Crin Antonescu. Dan is a pro-European Union and pro-NATO figure, making him an attractive choice for centrists and establishment loyalists, as he represents the opposition to the far-right surge that has swept through Romania.
As the election nears, the run-off will serve as a critical decision between a nationalist, hard-right candidate (Simion) and a pro-EU, pro-NATO centrist (Dan). The outcome of this election will influence Romania's political direction amid internal and external challenges, with significant implications for its EU and NATO relationships.
| Candidate | Background | Position Highlights ||--------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------------|| George Simion | Hard-right nationalist, AUR leader | Nationalist, Trump-aligned, anti-Ukraine aid, euroskeptic, serving "Romanian will" || Nicușor Dan | Mayor of Bucharest, independent | Pro-EU, pro-NATO, centrist, establishment-aligned |
This contrast sets the stage for a highly consequential presidential run-off in Romania [1][2][3].
- The upcoming run-off of the 2025 Romanian presidential election is indeed a breaking news event, as it presents a significant political divide between the far-right candidate George Simion and the centrist independent candidate, Nicușor Dan.
- The general-news implications of this election are extensive, as the outcome will shape Romania's domestic and foreign policies, particularly regarding EU and NATO relationships, depending on whether the country leans towards nationalist, euroskeptic policies (Simion) or maintains a pro-EU and pro-NATO stance (Dan).
