George Simion Leads Romanian Presidential Race with 40%, Faces Pro-West Rival in Tight Runoff Battle

Report By Safarti Tarjuman International Desk

AUR party leader George Simion has emerged as the front-runner in Romania’s presidential election, securing approximately 40% of the vote in Sunday’s first round, according to preliminary results. The nation now braces for a decisive runoff between Simion and one of two closely matched pro-West candidates.

With 97.2% of votes counted, the competition for second place remains razor-thin. Crin Antonescu, the candidate backed by the governing coalition, holds 20.72%, narrowly edging out independent candidate and Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan, who has 20.58%. Final results will determine which of the two faces Simion in the runoff scheduled in two weeks.

Simion claimed strong support among Romanians abroad, earning 77% of votes cast in Italy and 80% in Spain. The diaspora’s preference may play a critical role in shaping the final outcome.

Following the initial exit polls, Simion declared a symbolic victory, calling it a triumph of “Romanian dignity.” He urged continued vigilance during the vote-counting process to safeguard electoral integrity.

Simion’s surge is seen as the continuation of an anti-establishment wave, further propelled by ultranationalist Calin Georgescu — whose contested victory in the annulled December 2024 election had plunged Romania into political uncertainty.

In his Sunday evening address, Simion stated:
“Today, the Romanian people have spoken. This is a victory for those who believe in a free, respected, and sovereign Romania.”

Simion’s rising popularity comes amid his vocal criticism of the European Union, especially over its stance on Ukraine. Notably, he remains banned from entering both Ukraine and Moldova.

Analysts say Romanian voters appear to have prioritized individual appeal over party loyalty. The poor performance of the coalition — composed of PSD (centre-left), PNL (liberal), and UDMR (Hungarian minority party) — has been attributed to weak voter mobilization, particularly in rural areas.

Despite the exit polls, political observers caution that the final results could shift once all diaspora votes are tallied. Historically, Romanian exit polls have proven unreliable.

Official figures indicate a 53% voter turnout, higher than the annulled election of December 2024, signaling increased public engagement in this pivotal race.