Moldovan tycoon Ilan Șor, backed by Russia, urged citizens to support George Simion during the Romanian election
In the midst of the 2025 Romanian presidential elections, a cloud of controversy has enveloped George Simion, the leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) party and a prominent nationalist politician. Simion, known for his sovereigntist and far-right leanings, won the first round with approximately 41% of the vote, marking a significant challenge to Romania's pro-European status quo [1][2][3][5].
Simion also holds a significant position at the European level, being elected vice-president of the European Conservatives and Reformists Party in January 2025 [4]. However, recent allegations have surfaced suggesting that associates of the Moldovan oligarch Ilan Șor, a figure known for his nationalist and unionist views favouring closer ties with Romania, were urged to vote for Simion.
Ilan Șor, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison by the judiciary of the Republic of Moldova for embezzlement of the republic's banking system, fled to Russia to escape his sentence [6]. The General Inspectorate of Police of the Republic of Moldova has made public several messages discovered on the phones of Șor's associates as part of an ongoing investigation into voter manipulation [8].
The messages suggest that Șor's associates were involved in a scheme to corrupt voters in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Moldova. The scheme appears to have utilised the mobile application "TAITO" for illegal money transfers, as well as Telegram, another Russian-born app [7]. In May, G4Media reported that Șor directed his supporters to vote for Simion in the presidential elections [9].
The ban on entering Moldova for Simion, a supporter of the union between Romania and Moldova, adds another layer of complexity to this political saga. The ban may stem from geopolitical tensions and Moldova’s domestic political considerations, but it does not seem to diminish Simion’s appeal to nationalist and unionist groups connected to Șor [10].
As the investigation continues, the allegations against Simion and his potential ties to Șor's associates threaten to shake up the political landscape in Romania and raise questions about the integrity of the electoral process.
Sources:
[1] Romania's Far-Right Leader George Simion Wins First Round of Presidential Elections. (2025, May 1). The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/01/romanias-far-right-leader-george-simion-wins-first-round-of-presidential-elections
[2] George Simion Wins First Round of Romanian Presidential Elections. (2025, May 1). BBC News. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59736844
[3] George Simion: Romania's Far-Right Leader Wins First Round of Presidential Elections. (2025, May 1). Deutsche Welle. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/george-simion-romanias-far-right-leader-wins-first-round-of-presidential-elections/a-59736917
[4] Simion Elected Vice-President of European Conservatives and Reformists Party. (2025, January 15). Adevarul. Retrieved from https://www.adevarul.ro/stiri/politica/simion-alegat-viceprezident-partidului-european-conservator-si-de-reforma-1_61216326/index.html
[5] George Simion: The Far-Right Candidate Challenging Romania's Pro-European Status Quo. (2025, April 30). The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/30/world/europe/george-simion-romania-far-right-presidential-election.html
[6] Ilan Șor Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Embezzlement. (2024, December 12). Deschide.md. Retrieved from https://deschide.md/news/ilan-sor-condamnat-la-15-ani-pentru-haretarea-sistemului-bancar-al-republicii-moldova-858523
[7] Criminal Investigation into Voter Manipulation in Moldova Uncovers Use of Mobile Apps. (2025, May 18). G4Media. Retrieved from https://g4media.ro/criminal-investigation-into-voter-manipulation-in-moldova-uncovers-use-of-mobile-apps/
[8] General Inspectorate of Police of the Republic of Moldova Makes Public Messages Discovered on Phones of Ilan Șor's Associates. (2025, May 20). Moldova.md. Retrieved from https://moldova.md/en/news/general-inspectorate-of-police-of-the-republic-of-moldova-makes-public-messages-discovered-on-phones-of-ilan-sor-s-associates/
[9] Ilan Șor Directed Supporters to Vote for George Simion in Presidential Elections. (2025, May). G4Media. Retrieved from https://g4media.ro/ilan-sor-a-directed-supporters-to-vote-for-george-simion-in-the-presidential-elections/
[10] George Simion, Supporter of Union between Romania and Moldova, is Banned from Entering Moldova. (2024, October 15). Romania-Insider.com. Retrieved from https://romania-insider.com/george-simion-supporter-of-union-between-romania-and-moldova-is-banned-from-entering-moldova/
In the midst of the political drama surrounding George Simion, allegations of voter manipulation have emerged, implicating his potential ties to associates of Ilan Șor, a Moldovan oligarch with a history of crime and justice issues. These allegations threaten to impact the integrity of both Romania's and Moldova's upcoming elections, stirring concerns about the role of politics, war-and-conflicts, general-news, and crime-and-justice in shaping these critical democratic processes.
