Romania honors EU-antagonistic pro-Russian nationalist leader: Simion prevails, offering resistance to the mainstream faction
Let's Talk about Romania's Presidential Elections
The dude, George Simion, is making waves in the Romanian political scene. He's got that "hooligan-turned-presidential-hopeful" vibe going on - confident, with a posse of bodyguards keeping the masses at bay. In the first round of the presidential elections, Simion, the far-right, anti-EU nationalist, secured a solid 40% of the votes, according to unofficial results.
This win comes after November's elections, which saw Călin Georgescu's victory get annulled by the Constitutional Court due to Russian interference. George Simion, leader of the AUR, emerged as the most popular candidate in the election, despite not quite making it to the required 50%.
Simion celebrated his victory, stating, "The Romanian people have spoken, regardless of manipulations and obstacles. The Romanians have risen up." His alliance with Georgescu remains strong, with Simion hinting that, if elected, he would reinstate Georgescu to a position of power.
The fight for the second round is heating up. Simion's rivals are trying to form an alliance of the major forces to topple the AUR leader. The diaspora, particularly the Romanian community in Italy, will play a crucial role in determining the second-place candidate, with almost a million votes cast. As of now, Nicușor Dan, the independent mayor of Bucharest, and Crin Antonescu of the PSD-PNL-UDMR coalition are in a close race, with around 20% of the votes each.
If Simion makes it to the second round, he'll face either Dan, who appeals to the young, urban electorate, or Antonescu, promising continuity and institutional stability.
Italian politician Matteo Salvini was one of the first to congratulate Simion, praising his victory in a social media post. Meanwhile, election day was marked by a 53% turnout and coordinated cyber-attacks on websites like the Ministry of the Interior and Justice and candidate Antonescu's site.
Simion's background and political career: Born on September 21, 1986, in Focșani, Vrancea County, Romania, he is married to Ilinca Munteanu and has one child. He attended Gheorghe Lazăr National College and has been a member of the Chamber of Deputies since December 2020. He's the founder and current leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) and has been vice-president of the European Conservatives and Reformists Party (ECR) since January 2025.
Simion advocates for strong nationalist and sovereigntist policies, favouring Romania's independence from EU influence. He supports far-right ideologies and has shown skepticism towards the European Union. He has expressed admiration for figures like Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni, reflecting his allegiance to conservative and nationalist movements worldwide. Despite controversies surrounding alleged connections to Russia, Simion aims to build support from Western allies like Meloni while establishing lobbying connections in the United States.
- George Simion's average vote in the first round of the presidential elections was 40%, according to unofficial results.
- Despite not quite making it to the required 50% in the November elections, George Simion emerged as the most popular candidate in the election.
- Simion's victory in the Romanian presidential elections took place in Bucharest, Romania's capital city.
- If Simion makes it to the second round, thematic integration of policy and legislation may become a key focus, reflecting his sovereignist policies.
- Crin Antonescu, a rival candidate, promises continuity and institutional stability, appealing to a different segment of the electorate.
- Matteo Salvini, an Italian politician, was one of the first to congratulate Simion on his victory in a social media post.
- George Simion's political career is marked by his allegiance to conservative and nationalist movements, with controversies surrounding alleged connections to Russia, and attempts to build support from Western allies like Giorgia Meloni while establishing lobbying connections in the United States.
