Who is George Simion, winner in the first round to 2025 presidential elections: From activist to favorite to Cotroceni

The results of the presidential elections 2025, the first round, show that George Simion will face Nicușor Dan in the second round of the election, scheduled on May 18.

George Simion, born on September 21, 1986 in Focșani, is the co-founder and leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (gold), candidate for the presidential elections of 2025.

Rapidly becoming one of the most controversial political figures in contemporary Romania, its journey from the activist for the Union with the Republic of Moldova to the parliamentarian and presidential candidate is marked by controversies and an unconventional political style.

Origins and education

Coming from a modest family, Simion graduated from the “Gheorghe Lazăr” National College in Bucharest in 2005 and the Faculty of Administration and Business of the University of Bucharest in 2008. Later he completed a master’s program at “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” in Iași in 2010, with a research on “Communism Crimes”.

Unionist activism

He started his civic activity at only 20 years old, organizing protests in support of Romanian students from the Republic of Moldova.

In 2012, he coordinated a commemorative march in Chisinau with 7,000 participants, marking 200 years since the annexation of Bessarabia by the Tsarist Empire. He founded the platform “Action 2012”, militating for the reunification of Romania with Bessarabia.

His activism brought repeated prohibitions to enter the Republic of Moldova. The first prohibition was issued in 2014, and in 2024 he received another 5 years of prohibition, the Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean declaring that Simion “is part of the effort to destabilize the state”.

Also, according to the statements of former Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, Simion would also prove it in Ukraine.

Entry into politics

In 2019, Simion candidate independently for the European Parliamentary elections, obtaining only 1.21% of the votes.

In the same year, he founded gold, a party that surprised the parliamentary elections of 2020, entering the Parliament with a nationalist, conservative and anti-restrictions during the Covid-19 Pandemic period.

Gold exploited popular dissatisfaction with sanitary restrictions and used social networks intensively to promote its messages. The party organized anti-masque protests and supported the continuation of religious pilgrimages during pandemic.

In March 2022, Simion was elected the sole president of Gold, after previously shared with Claudiu Late. Although initially he had stated that he did not want to run for presidency in 2024, he changed his position, officially announcing the candidacy in June 2024.

George Simion’s controversies

Simion’s career is marked by numerous controversies and incidents:

– He was involved in multiple verbal and physical altercations in the Parliament, the most notable with the former Minister of Energy, Virgil Popescu, whom he called “thief” and caught the neck during a meeting.

– He had an exchange of vulgar replies with Diana Şoșoaca in Parliament, when he said, “I sexually assault you, scroafo.”

– He was involved in a scandal with the gendarmes at 3 in the morning, being taken to the section because he would drive without a permit.

– He acknowledged in a podcast that he had a tax evasion when he owned a business.

– He was accused of having helped Silvestru Şoșoacă to falsify signatures for MEPs.

– Gold published a “black list” of the Romanian press, a approach assumed by Simion.

Presidential elections 2024-2025

The context of Simion’s candidacy is marked by the annulment of the first tour of the November 2024 presidential elections by the Constitutional Court. Initially, the second round should have taken place on December 8, 2024 between Călin Georgescu (22.94%) and Elena Lasconi (19.17%).

After invalidating the candidacy of Călin Georgescu by the BEC and later CCR, George Simion announced his official candidacy for the reschedule presidential elections, being supported by the Party of Young People (POT).

It is interesting that, previously, Georgescu had criticized Simion, stating that he “is the man of others, of those who have nothing in common with the good of the people.”

Personal life

George Simion married Ilinca Munteanu, a graduate of the Faculty of Law, in a widely publicized ceremony organized in traditional style in Vâlcea.

The wedding was open to the general public and marked by incidents such as a bomb threat at the Groom’s Hotel.

On April 24, 2024, the couple became the parents of a boy named Radu.

The political program

The “Simion Plan” for presidential includes 200 points, including:

– Reducing the number of parliamentarians to 300

– a government with only 12 ministries and maximum 50 state secretaries

– Cutting social aids for work -to -work

– Reducing Labor Taxation

– “The ownership of the Romanians” with housing at the price of 35,000 euros

– Refinancing loans with zero interest

Declared wealth

According to the declaration of wealth, Simion does not own land, buildings or cars. In 2023, he won 137,000 lei from the deputy allowance, and his wife won 8,250 lei per year as a teacher.

He lives in an apartment of 44.66 square meters held by his wife.