Overview

• George Simion, leader of the far-right AUR party, garnered 40.5% of the vote in Romania's presidential election but fell short of the majority needed to win outright.
• Pro-European candidate Nicusor Dan, the mayor of Bucharest, finished second with 20.9% and will face Simion in a May 18 runoff to determine Romania's next president.
• Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced his resignation, citing the governing coalition's loss of legitimacy after its candidate, Crin Antonescu, failed to advance to the runoff.
• Election day was marred by a pro-Russian cyberattack targeting government and candidate websites, though Romanian cybersecurity authorities successfully restored operations.
• Simion, who has promised to appoint disqualified nationalist Calin Georgescu as prime minister if elected, represents a challenge to Romania's pro-NATO and EU alignment.