Hard-right nationalist leader George Simion secured the most votes in the first round of Romania's presidential election rerun Sunday, positioning himself for a runoff later this month.
Official electoral data shows George Simion won the most votes with 40.5% of the vote. Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan finished second with 20.9%, setting up a head-to-head contest in the runoff scheduled for May 18. Governing coalition candidate Crin Antonescu garnered 20.3%, falling short of advancing.
The election was a rerun of the original vote last year that was canceled by the country's constitutional court. That decision followed concerns over irregularities in the financing and organization of the leading campaign.
Romanian assets plunged Monday following the first-round results, deepening political turmoil. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu planned to offer his resignation in the wake of the outcome.
Simion's platform includes strong criticism of European Union leadership, opposition to military aid for Ukraine, and a stated alignment with the "Make America Great Again" movement in the United States. He advocates for a strategic partnership with the US but believes the EU Commission should not interfere in national policies concerning cultural matters. His campaign has tapped into anti-establishment sentiment and concerns over economic conditions like inflation and the rising cost of living.
The annulled November vote saw surprise first-round success for far-right figure Calin Georgescu. Authorities subsequently opened an investigation into Georgescu over alleged electoral violations, including the activation of thousands of social media accounts to spread pro-Georgescu messaging, described as an "aggressive Russian hybrid attack." Georgescu was later banned from standing again in the rerun. The decision to annul the original election drew criticism from some US figures, including JD Vance and Donald Trump's advisor Elon Musk.
Romania, a member of NATO and the EU, has supported Ukraine since the Russian invasion, including through its Black Sea ports. However, the arrival of Ukrainian refugees in the country has contributed to a populist backlash expressed by some right-wing figures like Simion, who has stated he will prioritize addressing poverty among Romanian citizens before supporting other nations.
Simion has not ruled out appointing Georgescu as prime minister should he win the May 18 runoff against Nicusor Dan.
Following the first round results, Simion addressed supporters in a recorded message. "I want to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who chose to vote (for me) with the number one position on the ballot paper," Simion said. "It was an act of courage, trust and solidarity. I am grateful and assure them that their trust will not be betrayed."
