Eurosceptic nationalist George Simion has won the first round of Romania’s presidential election re-run, held on Sunday.
Simion, the leader of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), was significantly in front of all other candidates with 40.96 percent of the vote after all votes were counted, according to official electoral data.
In second place was the independent centrist mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, with 20.99 percent.
The pair will meet in a runoff election on May 18.
Simion, 38, is critical of the European Union’s leadership, opposes military aid for Ukraine, and has said he supports U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” agenda.
“This is not just an electoral victory, it is a victory of Romanian dignity,” Simion said after exit poll data went public showing him in the lead.
“It is the victory of those who have not lost hope, of those who still believe in Romania, a free, respected, sovereign country.”
Simion won 36 out of Romania’s 47 electoral districts, as well as a majority of the diaspora vote, with 61 percent of overseas votes going to him.
Dan managed 25 percent of votes from abroad despite securing wins in 68 out of 94 countries where votes were cast. Ballots from one overseas station have not yet been counted, but will have no bearing on the overall result.
Simion’s international performance was bolstered by strong backing from Romanians in Western Europe, several Middle Eastern nations, as well as Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.
“We are a Trumpist party which will govern Romania and which will make Romania a strong partner in NATO and a strong ally of the United States,” Simion said shortly before polling stations closed.
Dan, running on an anti-corruption platform, beat former senator Crin Antonescu, 65, to secure second place.
Antonescu received 20.07 percent of the ballots.
After the votes were confirmed, Dan thanked his supporters—especially those in Moldova, where his camp secured over 50 percent.
“A difficult second round is going to follow with the isolationist candidate. It will not be a debate between individuals, it will be a debate between a pro-Western direction for Romania and an anti-Western direction for Romania,” he said.
“It is our task to convince Romanians that Romania needs the pro-Western direction and that is what our campaign will focus on, these two weeks.”
In fourth place was Victor Ponta, prime minister from 2012-2015, with 13 percent of the vote, while Elena Lasconi, who came second in last year’s first round ballot, managed around 2.6 percent.
Sunday’s vote was a rerun of an election held five months ago that was canceled following alleged Russian interference in favor of conservative nationalist frontrunner Calin Georgescu.
Georgescu was banned from running again yet he denies the allegations, which include electoral violations.
Russia has also denied the accusations of meddling.
On May 4, Simion voted alongside Georgescu, who alleged that the previous election was a “fraud” and told supporters to take their country back. Simion said his vote was to “restore democracy,” and dozens of people outside the voting location chanted “Calin for president.”
Bucharest’s supreme court annulled the previous vote on Dec. 6, 2024, following the allegations against Georgescu.
