George Simion.
Credit score: George Simion’s Twitter account.
George Simion, the nationalist conservative candidate representing the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), has clearly gained the primary spherical of Romania’s presidential election.
The 38-year-old politician, who describes himself as a “pro-Romanian” and is usually described as an enormous supporter of Donald Trump, secured almost 41 per cent of the vote.
Simion enters the second spherical, scheduled for Might 18, as a powerful favorite in opposition to Nicușor Dan, the mayor of Bucharest, who completed second with roughly 21 per cent, narrowly forward of former Liberal chief Crin Antonescu, who acquired 20.07 per cent.
George Simion’s base: Georgescu and the diaspora
A key think about Simion’s success was his capacity to rally supporters of Călin Georgescu, the controversial winner of the annulled November 2024 elections, which have been cancelled amid allegations of Russian interference.
Simion additionally drew important backing from disillusioned voters, angered by the earlier election’s cancellation and unhappy with the path wherein Romania goes.
Simion gained overwhelmingly amongst Romanians dwelling overseas. In Spain, he took 73.59 per cent of the vote; in Italy, 73.66 per cent; and in France and the UK, he acquired over 60 per cent.
An ex-ultra and the ‘Meloni mannequin’
Credit score: Artistic Commons
George Simion has quickly risen to political prominence after founding AUR in 2019, as an alternative choice to conventional political events in Romania.
Previous to getting into politics, he was a civic activist, largely recognized for campaigning in favour of unifying Romania with the Republic of Moldova. His activism drew sharp responses from Moldovan authorities, together with a number of expulsions and entry bans.
In Romania, Simion can be recognized for his background in soccer extremely tradition, having based two supporter teams: Honor et Patria and Uniți sub Tricolor, each cheering for Romania nationwide staff.
Simion opposes navy support to Ukraine and has known as for the “Melonisation” of Europe, referencing Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. In 2024, he was banned from getting into Ukraine as a result of “systematic anti-Ukrainian actions,” in line with Kyiv.
What Simion stated after his win
“This isn’t simply an electoral victory; it’s a victory for Romanian dignity. It’s the triumph of those that haven’t misplaced hope, of those that nonetheless consider in a free, revered, and sovereign Romania,” Simion stated following the announcement of the outcomes.
“I’m right here to serve Romanians, not the opposite manner round,” he added, reinforcing his imaginative and prescient. Like Călin Georgescu and different nationalist politicians, Simion advocates for a European Union that respects nationwide sovereignty and variety quite than imposing uniform insurance policies.
The challenger: an unbiased mathematician
Credit score: Nicușor Dan’s Fb account.
Going through Simion within the runoff is Nicușor Dan, a 55-year-old mathematician and present mayor of Bucharest. Dan, who’s operating as an unbiased, additionally has activist roots and based the Save Romania Union (USR) in 2016, though he left the occasion a 12 months later.
On December 16, Dan introduced his candidacy for the 2025 presidential election after the annulment of the 2024 vote as a result of Russian interference that allegedly favoured Călin Georgescu. He’s usually described as a centrist and pro-EU politician.
The choice to run for presidency stunned many, as Dan had beforehand pledged to serve not less than yet one more time period as mayor, claiming it could take “two or three phrases to repair Bucharest.”
His presidential bid has additionally led to a break up with Elena Lasconi, USR presidential candidate and his former ally who had positioned second within the annulled 2024 first spherical.
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