Exit polls from the first round of Romania’s presidential election indicate that George Simion, leader of the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), is in the lead with an estimated 30% to 33% of the vote.
The results were reported by Romanian broadcaster Digi24 shortly after polls closed on Sunday. Voter turnout stood at 53%, according to data released at the close of voting.
Simion, whose campaign has featured a mixture of nationalist rhetoric, strong criticism of the European Union, and expressions of pro-Russian sentiment, is now positioned to enter the second round of voting, scheduled for 18 May.
A tight race is unfolding for second place between Crin Antonescu, representing the joint alliance of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the National Liberal Party (PNL), and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), and independent candidate Nicușor Dan, the current mayor of Bucharest. Both candidates are projected to have received approximately 21% to 23% of the vote.
The final decision on who will face Simion in the second round will depend on the official count. The Romanian Central Electoral Bureau has not yet released verified results.
Simion, aged 38, is a former activist and founding member of AUR, a party known for its strong opposition to multiculturalism, support for traditional values, and calls for the unification of Romania and Moldova. His public statements have included attacks on Brussels institutions and accusations that the EU undermines Romanian sovereignty. He has also faced criticism for previous remarks seen as sympathetic to Russia, including calls for a neutral foreign policy and opposition to NATO deployments on Romanian soil.
In an earlier campaign appearance, Simion stated that, if elected, he may seek to appoint Călin Georgescu—a controversial nationalist figure—to a senior position within the presidential administration. Georgescu, who was previously barred from running in this election due to alleged foreign interference, had been the subject of scrutiny following accusations of ties to pro-Russian networks.
This presidential contest marks the repeat of elections originally held in November 2024, which were annulled by Romania’s Constitutional Court following credible reports of external interference. At the time, authorities launched an investigation into irregularities allegedly connected to foreign influence operations aimed at boosting the candidacy of Georgescu, then a prominent figure in the far-right political landscape. The court’s decision to void the results led to a rescheduled vote and heightened security measures.
The emergence of Simion as the frontrunner reflects a shift in the Romanian political landscape, where voter dissatisfaction with mainstream parties has fuelled support for populist alternatives. Despite longstanding ties to Western institutions, Romania has seen growing public scepticism towards the EU and NATO in some quarters, particularly in rural regions and among younger nationalist voters.
The second round of voting on 18 May will determine whether Romania follows the path of deeper alignment with the EU and NATO, as represented by candidates such as Antonescu and Dan, or whether it turns towards the more isolationist and nationalist agenda proposed by Simion.
The final official results of the first round are expected within days. The outcome of the election could have wider implications for Romania’s foreign policy orientation, its internal political stability, and its role within the broader European framework.
The presidential role in Romania, while largely ceremonial, includes key powers such as appointing the Prime Minister, overseeing foreign policy in coordination with the government, and representing Romania internationally. As such, the election result is seen as an important signal of public sentiment and the direction of Romania’s democratic trajectory.
