Election in Romania: Right-wing populist Simion could become president

The government in Romania is on shaky ground: After the far-right presidential candidate George Simion's surprise victory in the first round of elections, the prime minister resigned. This effectively leaves the government out of power until the runoff election on May 18. In an interview with RND, Katja Plate (CDU), head of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation's Romanian office, explains the situation on the ground.

Ms. Plate, you've been living in Romania for several years. How do you feel about the political situation in your adopted homeland?

We fluctuate here between political despair and, at times, even feelings of anger. As a guest, I hope that Romania will remain politically stable and continue on the economic growth path of recent years. It is important that Germany and the EU understand what is happening here in Romania. However, we must take a moment to consider the current political chaos.

In November 2024, the far-right candidate Călin Georgescu won the first round of the presidential election. But the election was annulled. What was the public mood like afterward?

The initial reaction was one of deep shock. Many went to bed on election day expecting then-Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu to emerge as the top candidate the next morning. We woke up to the realization that the relatively unknown Călin Georgescu had landed in first place. The country was in shock. As journalists in Romania uncovered more and more information about Georgescu, concern grew, particularly among the liberal middle class and businesspeople. The second round of voting for Romanians abroad had already begun when the election was annulled by the Constitutional Court.

Călin Georgescu (right) won the first, annulled round of voting last November. In the new election, he supported the right-wing populist George Simion (left).

Source: Vadim Ghirda/AP/dpa

There is a great deal of mistrust among the Romanian population towards authorities, including the Constitutional Court. Did people immediately accept this decision?

There have been repeated decisions by the Constitutional Court that raised major questions. Among them was the exclusion of candidate Diana Iovanovici-Sosoaca from the presidential election in November 2024. The annulment of the election in December was met with very mixed reactions: Many were relieved or at least recognized that Călin Georgescu had clearly violated electoral law – for example, by concealing his campaign expenses. Nevertheless, many also felt the ruling was unjustified, especially, of course, Georgescu's supporters. The issue continues to divide the country to this day. But the Constitutional Court's decision was ultimately respected. There were protests, but they remained peaceful.

Georgescu was a political newcomer. Why was he so successful?

Many who voted for Georgescu weren't necessarily supporters of all his positions. Georgescu was seen as someone who stood against the "system." We had a bloody revolution in Romania in 1989. After this bloody revolution, it wasn't the democratic opposition that came to power, as in many other Eastern European countries, but rather the second and third tiers of the old communist system. A clique established itself in the emerging parties and institutions, which Romanians refer to as "the system." Corruption, clientelism, and impunity are its hallmarks. And it is against this system that voters' anger is directed.

Right-wing populist George Simion and Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan emerged as the two winners of the rerun election, and they will advance to the runoff. What policies do these men represent?

Both are anti-system politicians. Their strong performance is a major slap in the face for the parties that have formed the government over the years. In response, the Prime Minister also resigned.

George Simion is co-founder and chairman of the right-wing Alliance for Romanian Unity, or "AUR" for short (archive photo).

Source: Andreea Alexandru/AP/dpa

On May 18, citizens will have a choice between Nicusor Dan, who says: "We must undertake far-reaching reforms to strengthen our democracy again. But we remain pro-European and modern." And on the other side, we have the traditionalist, right-wing populist Simion. He positions himself as anti-Brussels, anti-LGBTQ+, and reminiscent of Donald Trump's MAGA movement.

Do you think it will be a close race?

At first glance, Simion appears to be the clear favorite. He received 41 percent of the votes in the first round, while Nicusor Dan received 21 percent. However, we only had about 52 percent voter turnout. Many in Romania generally only vote in the second round. So there's considerable potential for mobilization. The key question is: Who benefits from this?

What is your tip?

Many Romanian analysts suspect that Nicusor Dan will be the most likely to benefit. At the same time, a mood for radical change is widespread, and this plays into George Simion's hands. He has already made several mistakes in his campaign against Dan in the last week. His statements about his current position on the EU or NATO contradict each other. This is striking. It will be a very close call. I don't want to venture a guess.

George Simion originally comes from the football hooligan scene, and he's been a member of Parliament for about five years. How does he perform there?

For a long time, he provoked and disrupted many things. In 2022, he physically assaulted the then Energy Minister. He also threatened the representative of the Jewish community in parliament. In the meantime, however, he has tried to present himself more seriously. He has sought coaching and worked on his language skills. Simion has realized that he needs to appeal to a wider audience if he wants to become president. Recently, Simion has also been copying Georgescu. He tries to mix things together that he recognizes as successful concepts. This comes at the expense of his authenticity. Nevertheless, George Simion is the person who has manifested the protest mood and defiance of the population.

Presidential candidate Nicusor Dan will face George Simion in the runoff election on May 18.

Source: Vadim Ghirda/AP/dpa

Protest mood, radical change, and defiant voters: The comparison to the AfD is obvious. Do you find this parallel apt?

Yes. While there are different issues and factors in Romania, this wave of right-wing populism we're observing in Europe—the AfD is a part of it, and Simion's party, AUR, is a part of it. It's a connected phenomenon. I see a willingness in both parties to break away from traditional political communication through social media, especially TikTok. That, for example, is something that characterizes right-wing populism across Europe. At the same time, I wouldn't necessarily describe George Simion—as far from being politically close to me—as a right-wing extremist. He's a right-wing populist, perhaps a cross between Giorgia Meloni and Donald Trump.

What feelings and hopes do you have regarding the runoff election on May 18?

I hope for a pro-European outcome. But whoever can convince the majority wins. The entire electoral process should be free and fair enough to reflect the will of the majority. And then Romanian society will deal with the choice it has made. Whichever of the two becomes president has a stormy time ahead of them, and I hope they manage to weather the storms and lead this important European country safely into the future.