Romanians returned to the polls on Sunday in a highly anticipated runoff vote between right-wing nationalist George Simion and pro-EU incumbent Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan. The vote follows the annulment of last year’s first-round results by Romania’s Constitutional Court over alleged irregularities and foreign interference.
Polling stations opened nationwide at 7:00 a.m. local time and are set to close by 9:00 p.m. Preliminary exit polls are expected shortly thereafter.
George Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), secured a commanding lead in the first round earlier this month with nearly 41% of the vote. However, recent opinion surveys indicate a far tighter race, with some showing a statistical tie and others favoring Dan by a narrow margin.
Simion brands himself a “Eurorealist”, critical of what he describes as a corrupt and overreaching Brussels bureaucracy. While he distances himself from accusations of being pro-Russian, he strongly opposes continued military support for Ukraine and advocates for a negotiated end to the conflict.
In contrast, Nicușor Dan, running as an independent, has pledged to safeguard Romania’s integration with the EU and NATO, crack down on corruption, and promote economic equality. A Sorbonne-educated mathematician and former civic activist, Dan frames Romania’s role in supporting Ukraine as critical to national and regional security.
The rerun comes after independent candidate Călin Georgescu emerged as the front-runner in last year’s annulled contest. The Constitutional Court invalidated the results citing TikTok-based campaigning violations and suspected hybrid interference. Georgescu has since been barred from running again due to alleged extremist positions.
Simion has expressed support for Georgescu, even suggesting he might appoint him prime minister. On election day, the two were seen entering a polling station together, a symbolic gesture highlighting continued discontent with mainstream Romanian politics.
Meanwhile, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) has withdrawn from the governing coalition following Simion’s first-round lead, declaring it no longer has the mandate to govern. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu resigned earlier this month, and the PSD has refused to back either remaining candidate.
In the lead-up to the vote, Simion claimed electoral manipulation was underway in neighboring Moldova, where thousands of Romanian citizens cast ballots. In response to electoral silence regulations, he deactivated his TikTok and Facebook accounts ahead of Sunday’s vote.
The European Commission and international watchdogs are closely monitoring the rerun, as the outcome could impact Romania’s stance on Ukraine, its EU commitments, and broader European political dynamics.