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Romanian Far-Right Candidate Challenges Presidential Election Results

George Simion, defeated by pro-EU Nicușor Dan in the presidential rerun, alleges foreign interference and irregularities in a formal appeal to Romania’s Constitutional Court.

Nicusor Dan
Presidential candidate George Simion waits to address members of the business community at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania, days ahead of the second round of the presidential election redo in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan salutes his supporters as he exit his campaign headquarters in Bucharest on May 18, 2025.
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Overview

  • Nicușor Dan, the independent and pro-European mayor of Bucharest, won Romania's presidential runoff with 54% of the vote, defeating nationalist George Simion.
  • Simion has filed a legal challenge with Romania’s Constitutional Court, claiming foreign interference and electoral fraud but has not presented evidence to support these allegations.
  • The election marked a record voter turnout of 64.7%, with significant participation from Romania’s diaspora, which analysts say helped secure Dan's victory.
  • This election followed the annulment of the November 2024 vote due to alleged Russian interference and the disqualification of far-right candidate Călin Georgescu.
  • Dan’s victory reinforces Romania’s pro-EU and NATO stance, but Simion’s appeal prolongs political uncertainty and highlights ongoing tensions in the country’s democratic processes.