George Simion. Photo: Lucian Alecu / Shutterstock Editorial
The far-right Gheorghe Simion won the first round of the presidential election in Romania with a landslide.
The leader of the Romanian far-right party AUR, Gheorghe Simion, has won a landslide victory in the first round of the presidential election, gaining 40.6% of the vote. The second place went to the current mayor of Bucharest, Nicuşor Dan, with 21%, Hotnews reports, citing official CEC data, Timeukraineisrael.
The second round of elections is scheduled for 18 May. Simion received even more support abroad, with 60% of the vote, while Dan received only 26%.
The media warns that Simion’s victory could isolate Romania, reduce private investment, and threaten the stability of NATO’s eastern flank, especially against the backdrop of Russia’s war against Ukraine. In addition, Simion would potentially join the ranks of Eurosceptic leaders in the EU, which already includes the prime ministers of Hungary and Slovakia.
Simion’s victory was welcomed by leading right-wing European politicians. The leader of the French National Rally, Marine Le Pen, called the result a “boomerang for Ursula von der Leyen”, while Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini wrote: “Romania has finally voted freely – with its mind and heart. Bravo, Simion!”
Simion’s AUR party is a member of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group in the European Parliament, separately from the Patriots, which includes Le Pen, Salvini and Orban.
The third place was taken by the government coalition’s Crin Antonescu (20%), who refused to make a recommendation to the voters. Former Prime Minister Victor Ponta (13%) said he would support one of the finalists, but has not yet specified who.
