George Simion leads Romanian presidential elections

He promises to make Calin Georgescu, who was suspended from participation in the elections due to alleged ties with Russia, prime minister.

Right-wing populist and Eurosceptic Djordje Simion is leading in Romania's runoff presidential election on Sunday. According to the vote count from all polling stations, 38-year-old Simion received more than 40% - almost twice as much as Bucharest mayor and independent candidate Nicusor Dan (21%).

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The ruling party candidate, Crin Antonescu, scored just over 20%. Both are considered centrists and supporters of European integration. Former Prime Minister Victor Ponta received 13%, the other candidates lagged significantly behind.

According to the Central Election Commission, almost nine and a half million people (53% of voters) had voted before the polls closed. 973 thousand Romanian citizens voted abroad.

Who is Djordje Simion

Polls spoke of Simion's victory, but the real result turned out to be higher than predicted. To win in the first round you need more than 50%. The second round will take place on May 18. 11 candidates took part in the elections.

Simion himself came to vote accompanied by Călinu Georgescu, a populist who qualified for the second round last November but did not take part in the current campaign due to criminal prosecution and a decision by the Constitutional Court. And after the announcement of the first results, Simion said that he would remain faithful to Georgescu.

The Romanian publication G4Media reported that the country's Prosecutor General's Office contacted Turkey with a request to assist in the investigation of the “troll factory” that worked for Georgescu. According to journalists, more than 20 thousand identical Tiktok accounts were linked to mailboxes on the Russian service Rambler, and they all had the same names: the surname “Ushakov” or “Alexandrov” plus a random combination of five characters.

At the same time, Simion himself considers the result a manifestation of the true hopes of the Romanian people. “This is not just an election victory. This is a victory for Romanian dignity. This is a victory for those who have not lost hope, those who still believe in Romania, a free, respected, sovereign country,” Simion said after the exit polls were announced.

Simion advocates ending military aid to Ukraine, criticizes the leadership of the European Union and supports US President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again!” movement.

On April 24, Romanian authorities began an investigation against Simion's far-right party, the Alliance for Romanian Unity (AUR). The party is suspected of violating campaign finance rules. Simion denies the accusations.

Now AUR is the largest opposition force. The cabinet of Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu is supported by the Social Democratic and National Liberal parties.

Simion's opponents warn against choosing populists

Crin Antonescu admitted defeat and did not recommend anyone for the second round. Nikushor Dan, who will go to the second round, said that the vote will be a choice between a pro-Western and anti-Western course. Dan expressed confidence in victory.

According to political analysts, a possible victory for Simion could lead to Romania's international isolation, reduce investment and destabilize NATO's eastern flank. Ukraine, Romania's neighbor, has been holding off a Russian invasion for more than three years.

Canceling the results of the 2024 presidential election

The first round of the presidential elections took place in Romania on November 24. Georgescu won a surprise victory with almost 23% of the vote. In the second round he was scheduled to face liberal politician Elena Lasconi, who received 19%.

On December 6, 2024, the Romanian Constitutional Court overturned the results of the first round of the presidential elections held in November, which was won by Călin Georgescu. The court referred to information about Russian interference in the election campaign. Moscow and Calin Georgescu himself categorically reject these accusations.

Lasconi also criticized the overturning of the election results, saying that the Constitutional Court's decision was undemocratic and was leading the country to anarchy.

Calin Georgescu and his TikTok campaign

Georgescu, an engineer and former UN official, was previously a member of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, whose goal, in particular, is the unification of Romania and Moldova. He participated in the presidential elections as an independent candidate.

During the election campaign, Georgescu criticized NATO and military aid to Ukraine and called for rapprochement with Russia.

Georgescu actively campaigned on TikTok. Radio Liberty journalists found out last December that the campaign of the far-right candidate was financed in the amount of more than one million euros by 36-year-old programmer Bogdan Pesir.

Pechir was previously associated with companies that dealt in cryptocurrencies, and about two years ago he became known as a large Romanian TikToker who transferred money to different TikTok accounts.

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Pechir himself said that he had no personal interest in financing Georgescu's campaign. Some of the donations, according to the blogger, did go to the candidate's supporters, but other funds were directed to charity, non-political TikTok accounts, and even to accounts supporting other candidates.

Georgescu is currently under investigation. Criminal charges have been brought against him on six counts, including inciting actions against the constitutional order and initiating an organization of a fascist, racist or xenophobic nature. Georgescu faces up to 25 years in prison.

The President of Romania is the guarantor of the constitution, concludes international treaties and appoints the prime minister with the approval of parliament. The president also represents the country at NATO and EU summits and can veto EU decisions.

Let us remind you that earlier “Verstka” told how in the presidential elections in Moldova the pro-Russian candidate received an unexpectedly large percentage of the votes. And the Kremlinbots frightened users by repeating the “fate of Ukraine .”

Photo: Calin Georgescu stands next to presidential candidate George Simion after they vote in the first round of the presidential election in Mogosoaia, Romania, May 4, 2025. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

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