Far-Right Leader Simion Advances to Runoff in Romania’s Presidential Election
In a significant development for Romanian politics and European security, George Simion, an ultranationalist figure known for his vehement opposition to military assistance for Ukraine and his incendiary rhetoric toward the European Union, has emerged as the front-runner in the first round of Romania’s rerun presidential election. Simion, who has publicly declared himself the “natural ally” of former U.S. President Donald Trump, secured a commanding lead as vote counting neared completion late Sunday evening.
According to preliminary results with approximately 99% of the votes tallied, Simion garnered an estimated 40.5% of the national vote. Simion leads the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), a party initially formed during the COVID-19 pandemic as a platform for anti-vaccine and anti-establishment activism, which has since evolved into a prominent force espousing nationalist and eurosceptic positions.
Trailing significantly behind Simion was Nicușor Dan, the current mayor of Bucharest and an independent centrist candidate, who received 20.89% of the vote. Close behind Dan, with 20.34%, was Crin Antonescu, the joint candidate of Romania’s governing coalition. Antonescu conceded defeat shortly after midnight, describing the result as “irreversible.”
The final certified results are expected to be released on Monday. However, based on the current count, Simion and Dan are poised to proceed to a decisive second-round runoff, scheduled for 18 May.
This electoral process comes nearly six months after the original presidential vote was annulled amid allegations of a concerted disinformation and influence operation linked to the Russian Federation. Romanian authorities cited credible evidence suggesting a “massive” foreign interference campaign, prompting the unprecedented decision to rerun the election.
Simion’s rise has alarmed many within Romania and across the European Union, with observers warning that his ascent could complicate Romania’s alignment with Western partners, particularly in the context of regional security and the war in Ukraine.