Far-right Trump ally wins first round of Romania’s presidential election

  * George Simion has comfortably won the first round of Romania’s presidential election, setting up the 18 May run-off as a referendum on the country’s future: one aligned with Europe, or one leaning towards isolationism, www.euractiv.com reads.   Far-right politician George Simion has come out on top in the first round of Romania’s rerun presidential election, following the annulment of the November vote over allegations of Russian interference.  Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians, will face Bucharest’s centrist mayor, Nicu?or Dan, in a run-off scheduled for 18 May, after Sunday’s vote.   George Simion, leader of the far-right AUR party, secured around 40% of the vote in the first round of Romania's presidential election – well ahead of Bucharest Mayor Nicu?or Dan, an independent candidate with about 20%, according to partial results with over 99% of votes counted.   The upcoming 18 May vote is shaping up to be a referendum on Romania’s future: one aligned with Europe, or one leaning toward isolationism.   Simion, a nationalist and sovereigntist, capitalised on a wave of anti-establishment sentiment. For the second consecutive time, Romania’s main parties — the Social Democrats (PSD) and the Liberals (PNL) — failed to send their candidate, Crin Antonescu, to the runoff, despite heavy financial backing and support from a large network of mayors who traditionally influence voter turnout.   But now this strategy fell flat.   Simion won in 36 of Romania’s 41 counties, including that of current Social Democratic Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. Perhaps most surprising was the overwhelming support Simion received from Romanians living in Europe, while Romanians in Moldova and the United States favored Nicu?or Dan.   The runoff promises to be unpredictable.   With 40% of the vote, Simion, an open supporter of Donald Trump and the MAGA movement who opposes aid to Ukraine, enters as the frontrunner. He is also expected to attract voters from former PSD leader Victor Ponta, who ran a sovereigntist campaign that brought him around 14% support.   Simion is likely to also draw additional backing from segments of the Social Democratic base, especially among those who share his views on Orthodox values, the traditional family, and resistance to expanding minority rights, particularly for the LGBTQ+ community.   In the lead-up to the May 18 runoff, “this won’t be a debate between individuals,” warned Nicu?or Dan on Sunday night. “It will be a debate between two visions for Romania: one pro-Western, the other anti-Western.”   Dan has received official support from the USR/Renew alliance, but he will also need endorsements from both PSD and PNL to stand a real chance.   In his concession speech, Crin Antonescu urged his supporters to vote for the candidate who best represents their values, leaving it to PSD and PNL leadership to make formal endorsements.   Whether the two finalists will face off in a debate remains uncertain. Simion has so far avoided televised debates and media appearances, except those with foreign press. On election night, he skipped a live appearance at his campaign headquarters and instead released a pre-recorded video message in which he reaffirmed his loyalty to former pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu.   “I will remain unshakably loyal to the man who should rightfully hold the presidency - the man in whom millions of you placed your hopes… Romania needs his wisdom,” Simion said.   He added that he does not seek power for himself but aims to “restore constitutional order.” “I have only one goal: to return to the Romanian people what was taken from them” – a reference to the annulled first round of last year’s presidential election.   Romania has been in political disarray since the Supreme Court annulled the first attempt at holding the election late last year. Then, Putinist far-right firebrand Calin Georgescu defied opinion polling to win the first round, but was later found to have benefitted from a Russian interference campaign.   Simion cast his vote on Sunday morning alongside Georgescu. "The time has come to reclaim our country from the scoundrels," declared Georgescu, whom Simion has said he would appoint prime minister if victorious.   The result would set up a high-stakes second round that will determine Romania's future direction on foreign policy, judicial reform and relations with the European Union, as well as the country's support for Ukraine.   Vocally anti-EU, Simion opposes continued Western military aid to Ukraine and has called for negotiated settlement, echoing Donald Trump's stance, though he has described Vladimir Putin as a war criminal. He was banned from Ukraine in 2024 for 'anti-Ukrainian activities', but maintains an ostensibly pro-NATO position, framing Romania's role as defensive rather than interventionist.