George Simion Leads First Round of Romania’s Presidential Election; Nicușor Dan Advances to Runoff

Bucharest, The Gulf Observer: George Simion, leader of the nationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) and the sole candidate of the sovereignist movement, has emerged as the front-runner in the first round of Romania’s presidential elections, securing over 40% of the national vote.

Simion, who campaigned on a platform of national sovereignty and anti-establishment reform, will face Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan in the runoff. Dan, an independent candidate informally backed by Romania’s reformist parties, obtained nearly 21% of the votes, narrowly edging out veteran politician Crin Antonescu, who finished third with 20.5%.

Antonescu, a former Liberal leader making a political comeback after a decade-long hiatus, was the joint candidate of the ruling coalition comprising the Social Democrats (PSD), the Liberals (PNL), and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR). His early lead in the vote count, built on strong support in rural areas, was quickly overtaken as ballots from major urban centers and the Romanian diaspora were tallied.

The ruling coalition suffered a significant blow, as Antonescu’s defeat was compounded by the independent candidacy of Victor Ponta, a former prime minister and ousted PSD leader. Ponta’s entry into the race, marked by nationalist-leaning rhetoric, siphoned off more than 13% of the vote—primarily from traditional PSD supporters—and is widely seen as a key factor in Antonescu’s third-place finish.

Elena Lasconi, president of the Save Romania Union (USR) and a prominent figure in the annulled November 2024 elections, received less than 3% of the vote. A large portion of her previous support appears to have shifted to Nicușor Dan.

With more than 98% of polling stations reporting, the results indicate that over 60% of Romanian voters cast their ballots for candidates outside the traditional political establishment—a reflection of deep public dissatisfaction and a desire for political renewal, consistent with the annulled 2024 vote.

The upcoming runoff sets the stage for a critical confrontation between two reformist candidates offering contrasting visions for Romania’s future—George Simion’s nationalist, sovereignist agenda versus Nicușor Dan’s progressive and institutional reform platform. The decisive round is expected to shape the political trajectory of the country for years to come.