Following the Constitutional Court’s decision to annul the results of the December 2024 presidential election, Romania is preparing for a second attempt at selecting its next leader. The country will hold fresh elections on May 4 and May 18, 2025. While the list of candidates has been slightly reduced from last year’s 14 contenders to 11 this time around, many familiar faces are back in the race.
Here’s a look at the registered candidates, listed in ballot order:
George Simion – Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR)
George Simion leads Romania’s second-largest parliamentary party, the hard-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR). Campaign Slogan: Democracy
Crin Antonescu – Electoral Alliance “Romania First”
Crin Antonescu is running as the joint candidate of Romania’s mainstream political forces: the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the National Liberal Party (PNL), and the Hungarian minority party (UDMR). Campaign Slogan: Romania, Forward
Elena Lasconi – Save Romania Union (USR)
The leader of the opposition Save Romania Union (USR), Elena Lasconi came second in the annulled first round of voting in 2024. Campaign Slogan: I Have Courage to Do Justice!
Cristian Terheș – Romanian National Conservative Party
A former priest and current Member of the European Parliament, Cristian Terheș is part of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group. He serves as deputy chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control. Campaign Slogan: Faithful to the Romanian Nation
Lavinia Șandru – Humanist Social Liberal Party
A journalist, actress, and former member of Romania’s lower house of parliament (2004–2008), Lavinia Șandru now runs under the banner of the Social Liberal Humanist Party. Campaign Slogan: Real Romania
Victor Ponta – Independent Candidate
Former Prime Minister Victor Ponta, who served from 2012 to 2015, is running independently this time. With extensive experience in Romanian politics, he advocates putting the nation’s interests above all else. Campaign Slogan: Romania First!
Sebastian Popescu – New Romania Party
Sebastian Popescu represents the New Romania Party. Details about his specific campaign remain limited, but his candidacy reflects growing support for newer political movements.
Silviu Predoiu – National Action League Party
Silviu Predoiu, a retired general and intelligence officer, is backed by the small center-right National Action League. Having served multiple terms as interim director of Romania’s external intelligence service, Campaign Slogan: Competence. Character. Courage.
John Ion Banu – Independent Candidate
An engineer by profession, John Ion Banu emigrated to the U.S. in 1985 and founded the Romanian-American League. Campaign Slogan: Democracy and Civilization Must Be Defended by Citizens.
Daniel Funeriu – Independent Candidate
A former education minister and Member of the European Parliament, Daniel Funeriu brings a wealth of international experience to the race. Holding a PhD in chemistry, he has worked across Europe, Asia, and North America. Campaign Slogan: This Is the Direction!
Nicușor Dan – Independent Candidate
Currently serving as Bucharest’s mayor since 2020, Nicușor Dan gained prominence through his leadership of the Save Bucharest Union, which later evolved into the Save Romania Union (USR). Campaign Slogan: Honest Romania
