Romania's Presidential Elections: Nationalist George Simion Tops First Round Results
In an unexpected turn of events, Romania confirmed its nationalist tilt on May 4, following a new presidential election round five months after the initial one was shockingly canceled. Geein' ol, George Simion, the charismatic leader of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), received an impressive 40.5% of the votes, according to near-final results. He's now gearing up to face off against Nicușor Dan, the centrist mayor of Bucharest, in the runoff scheduled for May 18.
With the majority of supporters chanting, "Out with the thieves! Long live the patriots!" in the background, a triumphant Simion declared, "Together we have written a page of history today." Despite his success, he's got a challenge on his hands, as he has fewer voter reserves than his rival, according to political scientist Professor Sergiu Miscoiu.
In total, eleven candidates are vying for the largely ceremonial but influential position in foreign policy in this EU member country of 19 million inhabitants. The country, a key pillar of NATO since Russia's invasion of neighboring Ukraine, is witnessing a heated race for the top job.
Since Calin Georgescu's surprise victory in November (yep, that guy who was accused of being pro-Kremlin), the West has been keeping a close eye on these elections. The Constitutional Court invalidated Georgescu's vote and excluded him from this race, following a massive TikTok campaign tainted by suspicions of Russian interference. George Simion, aged 38, stepped into the gap, finishing fourth in the autumn election but striking gold this time around.
Simion, with his youthful energy and fiery patriotism, waves TikTok (you know, that video-sharing app) like a pro as he hopes to avenge his ally Georgescu. Although he denies any inclination towards Russia, he shares the same aversion for "Brussels bureaucrats" and opposes any military support to Kiev. In the style of Donald Trump, his hero, Simion dreams of becoming a "MAGA President," a phrase sometimes found on his caps.
In the runoff, Simion will be going head-to-head with Nicușor Dan, the man who promised to fight corruption and secured a narrow victory over the sole candidate of the ruling parties, Crin Antonescu. Meanwhile, the anti-sovereignist camp is showing signs of fracture after a vicious campaign marred by dirty tricks and bitter accusations.
If George Simion becomes the top official, he's promised to bring Calin Georgescu to power. According to him, there are three options for this: a referendum, early elections, or forming a parliamentary coalition that would appoint Georgescu as prime minister.
The election was under close watch, with thousands protesting in recent months, denouncing a "coup d'état." The United States also expressed concern through Vice President J.D. Vance, who urged that the voice of the silenced people "based on weak suspicions of an intelligence agency" be heard.
Authorities assure they've "learned from the mistake." While the far right accuses "multiple signs of fraud," the government denounces disinformation campaigns, seeing them as "new attempts at manipulation and interference led by state actors."
Sources:1. George Simion, Wikipedia.2. 2025 Romanian Presidential Election, Wikipedia.3. "George Simion," Romania's Far-Right Hero of the Week", Balkan Insight, February 24, 2023.4. "The Rise of the Far-Right in Romania: Analyzing the Alliance for the Union of Romanians," Europe Street News, February 14, 2023.5. "Romania's Far-Right AUR Party surges in polls amid violent anti-COVID protests," Euronews, December 2, 2021.
- The charismatic leader of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), George Simion, received an impressive 40.5% of the votes, according to near-final results, setting him up for a runoff against Nicușor Dan.
- Political scientist Professor Sergiu Miscoiu has stated that Simion has fewer voter reserves than his rival, despite his success in the first round of the presidential election.
- If George Simion becomes the top official in Romania, he's promised to bring Calin Georgescu to power, through means such as a referendum, early elections, or forming a parliamentary coalition.
- The 2025 Romanian Presidential Election has been under close watch, with thousands protesting against what they perceive as a "coup d'état," and the United States expressing concerns about the election process through Vice President J.D. Vance.
- Simion, with his youthful energy and fiery patriotism, has been accused of having ties with Russia and opposes any military support to Kiev, much like Donald Trump, whom he admires and emulates.
