Overview
- George Simion, leader of the far-right AUR party, secured nearly 41% of the vote in Romania's presidential election's first round on May 4.
- Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, with approximately 21% of the vote, will face Simion in the May 18 runoff.
- Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu resigned on May 5, citing the ruling coalition's loss of legitimacy, and Interior Minister Catalin Predoiu was appointed interim leader.
- Simion's platform includes nationalist policies such as opposing EU and NATO priorities and annexing Romanian-speaking regions in Moldova and Ukraine.
- The election follows the annulment of the December 2024 vote over alleged Russian interference, with authorities now monitoring election integrity closely.