Overview

• George Simion, leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), won 40.5% of the vote in the May 4 rerun of Romania's presidential election.
• Simion will face Nicusor Dan, the centrist independent mayor of Bucharest, who secured 20.9% of the vote, in the May 18 second-round runoff.
• The rerun was held under heightened security and digital oversight following the annulment of the November 2024 election due to suspected Russian interference via TikTok.
• Simion's platform emphasizes nationalism, euroscepticism, and opposition to military support for Ukraine, positioning him as a potential disruptor to Romania's EU and NATO alignment.
• If elected, Simion has pledged to elevate his ally Calin Georgescu to power through a referendum, early elections, or a parliamentary coalition.