Bucharest, Romania — The Constitutional Court of Romania on Thursday unanimously rejected opposition leader George Simion’s petition to annul the results of the May 18 municipal election, formally confirming Nicușor Dan as the winner and incoming mayor of Bucharest. Dan is expected to be sworn in on Monday, marking the conclusion of a contentious and politically charged campaign season.
Simion, a far-right nationalist and founder of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), had alleged foreign interference and systemic corruption, naming France and Moldova as culprits in an alleged campaign to suppress conservative voices. His accusations were echoed by Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, who claimed he was pressured by French authorities to manipulate content against Simion—an allegation Durov said he resisted.
However, the Constitutional Court dismissed Simion’s claims as “baseless,” noting that no credible evidence had been submitted to support the allegations. The court has not yet released the full written reasoning behind its decision.
The final certified vote count showed Nicușor Dan securing 53.6 percent of the vote, compared to 46.4 percent for Simion. Simion’s legal challenge did not dispute the vote tally itself but contended that foreign influence had distorted the electoral environment, thereby invalidating the outcome.
The election was already steeped in controversy following the disqualification of former front-runner Călin Georgescu, who was barred from the race after allegations emerged of Russian-backed interference and illicit campaign financing. Declassified intelligence reports pointed to Russian manipulation of social media platforms in Georgescu’s favor—revelations that triggered widespread public outrage, the resignation of then-President Klaus Iohannis, and the cancellation of Georgescu’s candidacy. Moscow has denied all allegations of involvement.
Despite the political turbulence, Nicușor Dan emerged as a consensus choice for centrist and pro-European voters. A former civil society activist and founder of two anti-corruption NGOs, Dan is widely regarded as a center-right, pro-NATO reformist with a platform focused on transparency, urban development, and EU integration.
Simion, by contrast, has styled himself after former U.S. President Donald Trump, promoting a populist, nationalist agenda and frequently using incendiary rhetoric to rally support. Both Dan and Simion have faced allegations of financial misconduct, further polarizing an already deeply divided electorate.
Observers note that the narrow margin and post-election unrest reflect the growing polarization in Romanian politics, mirroring trends across Europe and beyond.
The Constitutional Court is expected to release its full legal rationale in the coming days.
Palace of the Parliament Bucharest Romania by Ted McGrath on Flickr
