Romanians vote in presidential runoff that could widen divisions in EU

In the second round of the presidential elections in Romania, a right-wing extremist, George Simion, and the pro-European liberal Nicusor Dan are seeking the votes of Romanians.

“Democracy or illiberalism”, “Europe or isolation”, “math champion or football hooligan” – such headlines and classifications can be read or heard in almost all independent Romanian media these days.

Ahead of the decisive second round of the presidential election in Romania on Sunday (May 18, 2025), public opinion is more tense than ever before in recent decades.

Without exception, all commentators and observers see the country at a crossroads and at an important historical moment.

No presidential election since the fall of the communist dictatorship in 1989/90 has been characterized by such radical opposition between the two candidates and such deep social divisions as the current one.

Rarely before has the outcome of an election been so unpredictable.

Both candidates emphasize that they do not come from "the system" and are not represented by Romania's traditional post-communist parties.

In chaos with Simion

On one side stands George Simion, 38, leader of the far-right, pro-Russian party "Alliance for the Unity of Romanians" (AUR), a former football hooligan, now a self-proclaimed "sovereignist" and fan of US President Donald Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Simion was the clear winner of the first round of the presidential election on May 4, receiving almost 41 percent.

His political rival: Nicusor Dan, 55, the nonpartisan mayor of Bucharest, a mathematician, a former anti-corruption civic activist, and a man with clearly pro-European, mostly liberal and partly conservative views. He came in behind Simion in the first round, scoring just 21 percent.

These are elections of great importance for both Romania and Europe.

Romania is the sixth largest country in the EU and the largest in Southeast Europe.

It has the EU's longest border with Ukraine, the most important NATO base, and the most important missile defense shield in the region.

So far, Romania has been a reliable and predictable partner in the European Union and NATO.

With a pro-Russian, far-right president Simion, this could change.

The president does not have major executive powers in Romania. But he is the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Chairman of the Supreme Council for National Defense (CSAT).

He appoints the prime minister, the heads of the two main intelligence services and some of the constitutional judges, and represents Romania in the EU and NATO. He can also attend government meetings. All of this gives him great influence in both domestic and foreign policy.

Most polls over the past two weeks have shown Simeon slightly ahead, sometimes significantly ahead. However, in one of the most recent polls, the two candidates are close to a tie.

But election polls in Romania are often inaccurate. Not a single institute had predicted Simion's victory in the first round.

Simion's Turn

The AUR leader has often made headlines in recent years with his tough, sometimes physically violent, appearances, regularly promising to "destroy the system."

He indirectly spoke of leaving the EU and NATO, and that the Republic of Moldova and the southwestern regions of Ukraine would join Romania. Simion was conspicuous for his pro-Russian sympathies and nationalist agitation against the Hungarian minority in Romania.

Simion has suddenly stepped away from these positions recently. He appears calm about it, refraining from vulgar expressions and shouting.

Instead of talking about leaving the EU and NATO, he talks about respect and dignity for Romania and that with him as president the country will be a partner "on an equal level and not a more humble one."

But what remains is the anti-Ukrainian agitation, for example, when he spreads lies about the alleged preferential treatment of Ukrainian asylum seekers over Romanian citizens. It has also not changed that Simion has little knowledge of public administration, the economy, the European Union, and foreign and defense policy.

The "antisystem" represents the system

With Dan, Romania and the EU would have a president who remains loyal to a pro-European course, the rule of law, transparency, with him there is predictability. Dan offers unconditional support for Ukraine.

As mayor of Bucharest, Dan has proven that he can push through reforms, even if he has not been able to fulfill some of his promises so far. His problem is that he sometimes gets confused in the complexity of thought. In televised debates with his opponent in recent weeks, he often reacted with wit. But he also avoided confrontation where it was not necessary and often behaved defensively.

Nicusor Dan has announced that if he wins the election, he will appoint interim president Ilie Bolojan as prime minister. Bolojan is a politician widely regarded as having integrity and enjoyed a good reputation as mayor of the western Romanian city of Oradea.

However, as a long-time leading politician of the National Liberal Party (PNL), he represents “the system” – this negatively affects Dan’s electoral chances, because there is great dissatisfaction within many parts of Romanian society towards the establishment, which seems to be the driving force in these elections.

Meanwhile, the self-proclaimed “system-breaker” George Simion represents the continuation of the old national-Stalinist Ceausescu system, parts of which survive to this day – among others in the AUR party. Simion would also appoint the pro-Russian esoteric Calin Georgescu as prime minister. The right-wing extremist was barred from running for president again. And throughout his political career, Georgescu has protected former Ceausescu diplomats and employees of the notorious secret service, the Securitate.

In an essay, civil rights activist and former opponent of the Ceausescu regime, Gabriel Andreescu, concludes: “A victory for George Simion would be the final stage in the revival of the former communist networks of power.” /DW/