Outcomes of Romania’s 2025 Presidential Election: a new chapter amid uncertainty

In a dramatic runoff and culmination of months of political uncertainty, Romanians elected centrist independent Nicușor Dan as president, pausing, at least for now, the far-right surge that had shaken the country’s political landscape. His victory signals not only a renewed commitment to the European Union, but also a pressing demand for Romania’s mainstream parties to reform and rebuild public trust.

Bianca Ioana Enache

A Turbulent Election Re-run

On Sunday, May 18th, Romanians returned to the polls for the presidential runoff election, some were doing so for the second time in just six months. Since the first attempt was annulled last December, the country has undergone a period of deep political uncertainty. In the months that followed, authorities uncovered extremist groups and social media disinformation networks. On top, growing social frustrations were exacerbated by a deeply unpopular prime-minister.    

It was against this backdrop that two ‘anti-system’ candidates qualified for the runoff election this May. The victory of centre-right independent candidate Nicușor Dan, the anti-corruption mayor of Bucharest with 53.6% of the votes, came as a relief for many, renewing hopes for political stability and reaffirming Romania’s pro-European trajectory. His opponent, George Simion, a far-right ultranationalist and leader of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), had been leading the polls just a few days before the election. Simion drew international media attention for his staunch opposition to Romanian aid for Ukraine and his strong Euroscepticism, positions that could have aligned Romania with the Hungarian and Slovakian administrations (POLITICO). 

The Shadow of Georgescu

Simion’s rise was largely fuelled by his association with Călin Georgescu, the controversial presidential candidate whose campaign led to the annulment of the initial presidential elections last December. Georgescu, previously a seemingly unknown figure, unexpectedly won the first round last year, benefiting from a sophisticated electoral campaign with high reach on social media, predominantly TikTok, declaring at the same time zero spending on electoral assets. The Constitutional Court’s decision to annul the elections was attributed to claims of Russian interference. The Romanian Information Services declassified a series of documents implicating foreign state actors’ involvement in Georgescu’s electoral campaign. (BBC).  

In March 2025, Călin Georgescu’s attempt to run again was rejected by Romania’s Central Electoral Office due to irregularities in electoral assets and alleged ties to fascist groups. He also underwent criminal investigation for six alleged crimes, including inciting actions against the constitutional order, the spread of false information, and the initiation of fascist organisations. A particularly controversial face in Georgescu’s circles is Horaţiu Potra, the former leader of a mercenary group, with operations in Africa, who routinely accompanied Georgescu in his televised appearances. Potra was allegedly planning a coup after the election annulment last year. Authorities confiscated over 3,000 firearms that were found in the possession of Potra or members of his organisation (POLITICO).

As tensions ran high across the political and social spectrum, George Simion capitalised on the social turmoil that followed the election annulment. His messages tapped into widespread societal distrust for Romanian mainstream politicians and political parties. Referred to as ‘his younger apprentice’ by Georgescu himself, Simion’s campaign this Spring relied heavily on this association, claiming support for Georgescu as prime-minister and otherwise avoiding public debates with Nicușor Dan. In the first round, where Simion dominated with over 40% of votes, a noteworthy defeated candidate was Crin Antonescu. A familiar face in Romanian politics, Antonescu was backed by the party cartel formed by the three mainstream ‘pro-European’ parties in the parliament: the Social Democrats (PSD); National Liberals (PNL), and Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR). His electoral performance fell slightly over 10,000 votes short compared to Dan’s, repeating the outcomes of the annulled session, when for the first time in Romania’s post-1989 history, the mainstream parties were not able to send a candidate into the second round of presidential elections. 

What Comes Next?

As newly elected president, Nicușor Dan faces a daunting challenge. Romanian society is deeply untrustworthy of political bodies. The political instability has had damaging effects on the economy. The new administration will have to address the high budget deficit and historic depreciation of the national currency. 

Crucially, Nicusor Dan plays a key role in the need to address the deepening polarisation of society, fuelled by the high economic inequalities, rampant misinformation, and decades of high-level political corruption and lack of institutional transparency. Although most of the big urban centres voted for Dan, rural spaces or declining former industrial hubs, as well as the Western European Romanian diaspora, overwhelmingly voted for Simion. These are the communities where public investments rarely reach and local administrations fail to access European funds, or those who were pushed out of their own country by an unfavourable job market and lack of economic opportunities. As mayor of Bucharest, the capital city and most economically developed part of Romania, Dan’s ability to connect with voters in marginalised communities remains under scrutiny. Should his presidency fail to deliver tangible inclusion and responsive governance, the far-right resurgence could gain further momentum in future elections. Ongoing talks about forming a technocratic government add another layer of uncertainty, with critics warning their implementation could alienate voters even more. Given the deep social fractures, Romania’s executive will need to prioritize transparency, accountability, and ideological clarity.

Within the next month, the priority is forming a new stable government amidst a fragmented political landscape. This might require cooperation from the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the largest parliamentary group, which notably refused to endorse Dan in the runoff, unlike their liberal former coalition partners. The election of Nicușor Dan stands however as a win for the Romanian people against the corrupt political mainstream and signals social commitment to democratic values and European integration.