Romania voted on May 4, 2025 to elect its president, five months after the spectacular cancellation of the previous ballot. A boon, for this fan of the American president who worries to Belgium. But will he go to the second round? Answer on May 18.
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The Constitutional Court had invalidated the November vote, marked by the unexpected victory of Calin Georgescu, a candidate accused of pro-Kremlin sympathies. This decision followed a campaign tapped with suspicion of foreign interference, especially via Tiktok. Sunday’s election therefore aimed to restore the legitimacy of the democratic process.
George Simion, who arrived fourth in the fall, replaced Georgescu in the race and presented himself as the heir to this sovereignist current. Aged 38, he took advantage of a tense social context and a tired electorate of the traditional elites. This new ballot, although concerning a post, especially protocol, has a strong symbolic significance. He confirms a major political turning point in this country so far considered as a stable partner in the EU and NATO.
1. He comes at the top of the first round of the presidential election
George Simion collected around 40 % of the vote in the first round of the Romanian presidential election, according to more than 90 % of the stripped bulletins. It widely is ahead of its two main pro-European competitors, each around 20 %. He will face one of them in the second round scheduled for May 18, even if the analysts note that he has less voice reservations than his opponents.
2. An admirer sold by Donald Trump
Simion does not hide his inspiration: he dreams of being “President Maga”, sometimes sporting a red cap with Trump. He hopes to surf the revival of ultra-conservative currents, amplified by the geopolitical context and internal tensions to the European Union.
3. Clearly far -right positioning
Simion is at the head of the Aur Party (Alliance for the Romanian unity), a nationalist, sovereignist and illiberal training. He castigates “the corrupt bubble of Brussels”, rejects any military aid to Ukraine, fights the rights of LGBT+ and promotes a “more patriotic” Romania. It arises by opposing fiercely to the elites and international institutions.
4. Populist and conspiracy rhetoric
His speech, both mystical and populist, found an echo in the Romanians struck by high inflation and a feeling of downgrading. He accuses past managers of being “storage” of foreign powers, and promises to accept that Romanians are treated as “second -class citizens”.
5. A strategy turned towards the diaspora
Simion has taken campaign abroad, focusing on the numerous Romanian diaspora. If his score is confirmed, this could have a training effect for his AU party in the legislative elections on December 1, scheduled between the two towers of the presidential election.
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