Photo: Inquam Photos / Mălina Norocea
On Sunday, 18 May, Romania will elect a new president. The second round of the presidential election will feature two contrasting figures – George Simion, leader of the right-wing radical party AUR, and Nicușor Dan, an independent candidate and current mayor of Bucharest, who is supported by centrist forces. These elections are an important event for Romania. This was reported by Hotnews.
The model of the ballot paper has already been approved. Simion is in the first position and Dan is in the second, according to the number of votes in the first round. Romania is already preparing for this important stage.
Candidates from two worlds
George Simion (38) is a politician with a reputation as a radical, co-founder of the AUR party, known for his slogans of unification with Moldova and harsh nationalist rhetoric. His political career began with actions against post-communist leaders, including Ion Iliescu, and the Acțiunea 2012 project. He has been banned from Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova for border breaches and provocative actions, making him one of the most controversial figures Romania will face.
Nicuşor Dan (54) is a mathematician by training, who received his doctorate in France. He founded the NGO Save Bucharest and the USR political party, which he later left. Dan has the image of a technocrat and anti-corruption activist, advocating infrastructure modernisation, transparent governance and European integration, which also defines his position in modern Romania.
What does this mean for Ukraine?
The 2025 elections in Romania are of great importance to Kyiv. Despite official Bucharest’s support for Ukraine after 2022, the election of George Simion could complicate relations: he has repeatedly spoken out against Ukraine’s education law and supported ethnocentric slogans.
Instead, Nicușor Dan is known as a pro-European supporter and has not been involved in scandals related to anti-cultural or anti-Ukrainian rhetoric. His victory could provide predictability in relations between Romania and Ukraine, especially in the areas of cross-border security, logistics, and support for Ukrainian refugees.
