On Sunday, May 4, 2025, Romanians headed to the polls for the first round of a presidential election that could usher in a new era of hard-right nationalism within the European Union. The election is seen as a significant test of Donald Trump-style populism on the continent.
Leading the race is George Simion, a 38-year-old eurosceptic and nationalist who has expressed alignment with former U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement. Simion opposes military aid to neighboring Ukraine and is critical of EU leadership. He is polling at approximately 30%, a comfortable lead but short of the 50% needed to avoid a runoff scheduled for May 18.
This election follows a controversial annulment of the initial 2024 vote due to allegations of Russian interference favoring far-right candidate Calin Georgescu, who has since been barred from running. Simion, seen as Georgescu’s political heir, has capitalized on public anger over the cancellation, particularly among Romanians abroad, where early turnout has more than doubled compared to November’s canceled first round.
Simion’s main rivals are centrist candidates Crin Antonescu and Nicusor Dan, both pro-European Union and supportive of NATO and aid to Ukraine. According to the latest AtlasIntel poll, Antonescu is polling at 24.3%, while Dan is at 22.4%, setting the stage for a likely runoff.
Analysts warn that a Simion presidency could isolate Romania within the EU and NATO, reduce foreign investment, and increase geopolitical uncertainty. His stance on Russia, stating it does not pose a significant threat to NATO, contrasts with prevailing views among Eastern European leaders.
The United States has dispatched election observers to monitor the rerun, reflecting concerns over foreign influence and the integrity of the electoral process. Romanian authorities have tightened campaign regulations and uncovered networks of fake sites mimicking official sources to address misinformation.
As polls close at 9 p.m. local time (1800 GMT), exit polls will provide the first indication of whether Romania is poised to shift towards a more nationalist and eurosceptic leadership.
Source: Reuters
