The leader of the nationalist party “Alliance for the Unification of Romanians“ (AUR) Gheorghe Simion will face Bucharest Mayor and independent candidate Nicosor Dan in the second round of the Romanian presidential election on May 18, BTA reported.
Gheorghe Simion, 38, leader of the second-largest parliamentary party, won the first round on May 4 with a landslide victory with around 40 percent of the vote, according to data from the Permanent Electoral Authority, with almost 100 percent of the ballots counted.
Far behind him, with just over 20 percent, was Bucharest Mayor Nicosor Dan, 55, who ran as an independent candidate.
Dan beat the ruling coalition's candidate, Crin Antonescu, who was placed second in the first exit polls.
Romania's presidential election was rerun after the Constitutional Court annulled the first round result last December due to suspicions of rigging. Russian interference in favor of far-right candidate Calin Georgescu. Moscow denies having anything to do with Georgescu, who won in a surprise victory with a massive social media campaign, claiming that he did not spend "a single leu" on it. The annulment of the elections plunged the country into its worst political crisis in decades.
A total of 11 candidates participated in the presidential run-off.
Giorge Simion is running for president after the Constitutional Court and the Central Electoral Bureau did not allow Calin Georgescu to participate in the run-off.
Today, Simion gave a special press conference for foreign journalists accredited to cover the vote, at which he spoke about irregularities and electoral fraud. BTA was the only media outlet from Bulgaria present.
Simion spoke of a "widespread retreat of democracy in the country", including the annulment of the November elections by the Constitutional Court, and said he was ready to provide Calin Georgescu with a leading role in Romanian politics.
„The people have spoken clearly and we intend to defend this voice. "If Mr. Georgescu wishes to take on a leadership role, we will ensure that a democratic and constitutional path is provided that reflects the choice already expressed by the Romanian nation," Simion told a press conference for foreign journalists.
After emerging victorious in the first round of exit polls, Simion said: "This is the victory of those who have not lost hope, they still believe in Romania (…)."
The leader of the "Alliance for the Unification of Romanians" stressed that he would remain loyal to Calin Georgescu, and during the election campaign said he was ready to nominate him for prime minister.
As in many other EU countries, Romania is experiencing strong anti-system sentiment, fueled by high inflation and the cost of living, a large budget deficit and a sluggish economy. According to observers, these difficulties are increasing support for nationalist and far-right figures such as Calin Georgescu, who was not allowed to participate in the repeat vote because he is under criminal investigation for campaign financing abuses, attempting to change the constitutional order, and membership in a fascist and anti-Semitic organization.
Calin Georgescu appeared with Simion at a polling station in Mogosoaia, near the capital Bucharest, and called the repeat vote "a fraud organized by those who turned fraud into the only state policy."
Bucharest Mayor Nicosor Dan, who was re-elected for a second term in 2024, decided to run for president precisely because of the annulment of last year's presidential election.
A mathematician by training, Nicosor Dan became famous in 2006. with the association he founded “Save Bucharest“, which he later turned into a party, and with his actions as a civil society activist. After a successful performance in the local elections of 2012 and 2016, Nikusor Dan changed the name of the party to “Union for the Salvation of Romania“ and expanded it to the national level. Although he later left it due to internal party disagreements, in this election campaign “Union for the Salvation of Romania” supported him.
“I vote for hope, for truth and for honesty. I vote for a European future, clean and dignified. We have a chance for a real change in the political class. Romania deserves more — and change begins with voting”, said Nikusor Dan after casting his vote.
In a statement after it became clear that he had reached the second round, Nikusor Dan said he expected a “difficult” runoff against the isolationist candidate.
"There will be a difficult second round with the isolationist candidate”, said Nikusor Dan at his campaign headquarters. According to him, the battle will not be between individuals, but for the direction of Romania.
“(…) Our task is to convince Romanians that Romania needs a pro-Western direction, and that is what our campaign will focus on during the two weeks. I call on all Romanians to join this battle. I am optimistic that we will win and that Romania will move in a Western direction“, said Nikusor Dan, quoted by Agerpres.
Political analyst Cristian Andrei commented that Gheorghe Simion's convincing victory in the first round shows a complete "reshaping" of the political scene, and Nikusor Dan's reaching the second round – “a clear signal that the political class and the political establishment have lost”, reported the Associated Press.
“You have a populist or pro-sovereignty movement... and you also have this liberal, urban, pro-Western segment of Romania that wants change,” commented Cristian Andreu, adding that this is “a huge rejection of the classic political parties“.
Romania's ruling coalition, which includes the country's two largest parties, is meeting today for an emergency meeting to analyze the election results, and according to Romanian media, tensions within the coalition are huge after the failure of the common presidential candidate.
Distrust of the authorities remains widespread in Romania, especially among those who voted for Calin Georgescu, the Associated Press notes.
The repeat of the presidential election is a key moment for Romania, which is trying to restore its democratic image and to preserve its geopolitical alliances, which were strained after the annulment of the elections.
The decision to annul last year's elections and ban Georgescu's candidacy drew criticism from US Vice President JD Vance, Elon Musk and Russia.
A victory for George Simion could isolate Romania and destabilize NATO's eastern flank, political analysts said, quoted by Reuters.
A victory for George Simion would expand the camp of eurosceptic leaders in the EU, which already includes the prime ministers of Hungary and Slovakia, at a time when Europe is struggling to formulate its response to US President Donald Trump's policies, the agency notes.
George Simion supports US President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement (Make America Great Again - MAGA).
"We are natural allies of the Republican Party and our ideology almost completely coincides with that of the MAGA movement", he said in an interview with the "Politico" edition in late April after one of his visits to the United States. Simion has also repeatedly criticized the policy of the EU leadership.
The leader of the Romanian nationalist party has repeatedly spoken out against sending military aid to Ukraine. Simion also opposed Romania's decision to donate a "Patriot" system to the neighboring country.
"We will not send military aid to Ukraine and that does not make us pro-Russian," Simion told foreign journalists in Bucharest last November. He added that humanitarian and logistical support for Kiev would continue, as would support for Ukraine's bid to become an EU member, but not for eventual NATO membership.
On the issue of defense spending, the leader of the "Alliance for the Unification of Romanians" supports Donald Trump's position. "All countries should increase spending; I think it's fair to pay for your own security and invest in your own security," he told "Politico", and in an interview with AFP he promised to almost double Romania's military budget to 4 percent over the next five years.
The presidential term in Romania is five years and is limited to no more than two consecutive terms. The head of state has a semi-executive role that includes commanding the armed forces and chairing the Supreme Council for National Defense, which makes decisions, among other things, on the provision of military aid. The president also represents Romania at European Union and NATO summits, can veto important EU votes, and appoints the prime minister, top judges, prosecutors, and heads of the secret services.