AUR party leader George Simion won the first round of Romania’s presidential election re-run held on Sunday, May 4, securing 40.96% of the vote, according to official electoral data.
With 100% of ballots counted early Monday, independent candidate and current Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan, founder of the Save Romania Union (USR), came in second with 20.99%. Former senator Crin Antonescu, backed by the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the centre-right National Liberal Party (PNL), placed third with 20.07%. In fourth place was Victor Ponta, a former Prime Minister and Social Democrat, who received 13.04% of the vote.
Voter turnout stood at approximately 53%, according to Romania’s election authority. Simion won in 36 of the country’s 41 counties, demonstrating widespread domestic support. He also dominated among Romania’s diaspora, garnering over 70% of the vote in Italy, Spain, and Germany, where many Romanians are employed in blue-collar jobs.
In a prerecorded speech aired after polls closed, Simion said that despite many obstacles, Romanians “have risen up” and “we are approaching an exceptional result.”
“I am here to restore constitutional order,” he said, “I want democracy, I want normalcy, and I have a single objective: to give back to the Romanian people what was taken from them and to place at the center of decision-making the ordinary, honest, dignified people.”
Simion and Dan will advance to a runoff election scheduled for May 18, nearly six months after the original vote was annulled.
Romania now faces a tough battle in the second round in two weeks as the presidential role carries a five-year term and significant decision-making powers in national security and foreign policy. The president appoints the prime minister, chief judges, prosecutors and top intelligence officials.
