As Romania prepares for its presidential election re-run on May 4 and 18, 2025, nearly 40% of voters remain undecided, according to recent polls. This uncertainty follows the annulment of the December 2024 election by the Constitutional Court, which cited evidence of Russian interference aimed at promoting far-right candidate Călin Georgescu. Georgescu, who was barred from re-running, had claimed a surprise victory in the initial round.
The re-run features four leading candidates:
- George Simion: Leader of the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), Simion is currently leading the polls with 33.4%. He has pledged to prevent any potential withdrawal of U.S. troops from Romania, emphasizing his alignment with Western alliances.
- Crin Antonescu: A pro-European Union candidate representing the ruling coalition, Antonescu is positioning himself as a moderate choice.
- Nicușor Dan: The current Mayor of Bucharest, Dan has expressed concerns over misinformation during the campaign and has called for greater accountability from electoral authorities.
- Victor Ponta: Former Prime Minister and a member of the Social Democratic Party, Ponta is campaigning as an independent. He has faced criticism over past decisions, including rerouting Danube floodwaters in 2014, which led to flooding in several Romanian villages.
The annulment of the previous election was prompted by declassified intelligence reports alleging “aggressive hybrid Russian attacks” targeting Romania’s electoral process. These included social media manipulation and cyberattacks.
The upcoming election is crucial, as the Romanian president holds significant influence over military and EU policy. The international community, including the United States, is closely monitoring the electoral process to ensure its fairness and transparency.
