Romania is holding presidential elections on May 4, 2025, following the annulment of the previous elections in late 2024 due to alleged Russian meddling [2, 19]. The rerun election is viewed as critical for Romania, an EU and NATO member bordering Ukraine, amidst ongoing political instability [2, 5].
The November 2024 elections were annulled after Călin Georgescu, a pro-Russian candidate, initially won [2, 3]. He was later barred from running in the 2025 election due to campaign financing issues and foreign interference [2, 8]. George Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), has emerged as a frontrunner [2, 5].
Simion's main rivals include Crin Antonescu, representing the governing coalition, and Nicușor Dan, the mayor of Bucharest [5, 6, 16]. Polls suggest Simion is likely to advance to the second round on May 18 [6, 19]. The election highlights deep divisions within Romanian politics, including concerns about corruption and external influence [5, 13].
The outcome of the election could significantly impact Romania's geopolitical orientation and its relationship with the EU and NATO [17, 20]. The disqualification of Georgescu and the rise of Simion have fueled protests and concerns about democratic values [11, 13].