Europe's Failed Attempt to Dictatorship: Will Romania Cancel Elections AGAIN?

Romania, a vital member of NATO and the European Union, stands at a critical juncture as it navigates a political crisis that has shaken its democratic foundations. The annulment of the 2024 presidential election, followed by a contentious rerun in May 2025, has fueled accusations of authoritarianism, foreign interference, and a struggle for national identity. At the forefront of this turmoil is George Simion, the ultranationalist leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), who secured a commanding 40.5% of the vote in the first round of the 2025 election. This article examines the events leading to the election’s cancellation, Simion’s rapid ascent, the socioeconomic factors driving his support, and the broader implications for Romania and Europe.

The Socioeconomic Backdrop: Fertile Ground for Populism

Romania’s political crisis cannot be understood without examining the socioeconomic conditions that have fueled anti-establishment sentiment. Despite steady economic growth since joining the EU in 2007, Romania faces persistent challenges. According to Eurostat, Romania’s GDP per capita in 2024 was 77% of the EU average, with rural areas particularly disadvantaged. Inflation peaked at 10.4% in 2023, eroding household budgets, while the budget deficit reached 6.6% of GDP in 2024, among the highest in the EU. A 2025 World Bank report highlighted that 25% of Romanians remain at risk of poverty, particularly in rural regions, where access to healthcare and education is limited.

These economic woes have amplified distrust in the ruling coalition of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and National Liberal Party (PNL). A 2025 Sociopol survey revealed that 68% of AUR voters cited corruption and economic hardship as their primary concerns, while 54% expressed skepticism toward EU institutions. The diaspora, comprising over 5 million Romanians living abroad, has also grown frustrated with economic stagnation and perceived neglect by the government. In the 2025 election, diaspora turnout accounted for 12% of total votes, with Simion securing 59% of their support, a stark contrast to the pro-EU leanings of diaspora voters in previous elections.

George Simion: The Populist Firebrand

George Simion, a 38-year-old history graduate and former activist, has emerged as a polarizing figure in Romanian politics. Leading AUR, which he founded in 2019, Simion has capitalized on public discontent with a platform blending nationalism, Euroscepticism, and anti-corruption rhetoric. His alignment with global populist figures, such as Donald Trump and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, has drawn both admiration and alarm. Simion’s campaign in the 2025 election rerun focused on restoring “Romanian dignity,” opposing military aid to Ukraine, and challenging EU policies, while pledging to appoint the disqualified Calin Georgescu to a prominent role, possibly as prime minister.

Simion’s political journey began with street protests advocating for the unification of Romania and Moldova, an irredentist stance that led to bans from entering Moldova and Ukraine. AUR, initially a fringe anti-vaccination movement during the COVID-19 pandemic, gained traction by appealing to young, urban men and the working-class diaspora. By 2024, AUR had become Romania’s second-largest parliamentary party, holding 35% of seats alongside other far-right groups. Simion’s first-round victory in 2025, with 40.5% of the vote, underscored his broad appeal, winning 36 of Romania’s 41 counties and dominating diaspora votes in Europe, particularly in Italy (77%) and Spain (80%).

The 2024 Election Annulment: A Democratic Flashpoint

The roots of Romania’s crisis lie in the dramatic annulment of the November 2024 presidential election. Calin Georgescu, a far-right independent with pro-Russian leanings, defied polls to win the first round with 23% of the vote, propelled by a viral TikTok campaign. However, the Constitutional Court nullified the results, citing evidence of Russian interference, including cyberattacks on electoral systems and coordinated social media manipulation. Georgescu, who claimed a “zero-budget” campaign, was later barred from the 2025 rerun due to charges of electoral violations and promoting fascist groups. Declassified intelligence reports revealed suspicious payments to influencers and fake TikTok accounts amplifying Georgescu’s nationalist imagery, such as videos of him riding horses in traditional attire.

The annulment sparked widespread controversy. Far-right supporters, led by AUR, denounced it as a “coup” orchestrated by Romania’s pro-Western establishment and NATO allies. Protests erupted in December 2024 and intensified in March 2025, with tens of thousands marching in Bucharest, chanting slogans like “Down with dictatorship” and “We want to vote.” A 2025 Romanian Institute for Public Opinion poll found 44% of citizens viewed the annulment as undemocratic, while 49% supported it as a safeguard against foreign interference. The decision also drew international criticism, with U.S. Vice President JD Vance calling it an affront to democracy in February 2025, aligning with Simion’s narrative of a stolen election.

The 2025 Election: A Referendum on Romania’s Future

The May 4, 2025, election rerun was framed as a battle between nationalism and European integration. Simion’s first-round triumph, with 40.5% of the vote, positioned him as the frontrunner for the May 18 runoff against centrist Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan, who secured 20.7%. Simion’s dominance was attributed to his ability to harness anger over Georgescu’s disqualification, appealing to voters who felt their voices were silenced. He voted alongside Georgescu on election day, declaring their mission to “restore democracy.” Exit polls by Reuters showed Simion leading in rural areas and among younger voters. 

The governing coalition of PSD, PNL, and UDMR, which canceled Romania's 2024 presidential election, backed Crin Antonescu, who placed third with 20.34% in the partial presidential election on May 4, 2025. The electorate was taking revenge for a dictatorship attempt!

The Central Electoral Bureau reported a 53% voter turnout, higher than the annulled 2024 election, indicating heightened public engagement. Simion’s campaign was bolstered by social media, particularly TikTok, where his 1.3 million followers consumed emotionally charged content blending nationalist rhetoric with anti-establishment themes. A 2025 study by the Bucharest Center for Media Studies found that 62% of voters under 30 relied on TikTok for election information, underscoring the platform’s influence in shaping public opinion.

Geopolitical Stakes: Romania’s Role in NATO and the EU

Romania’s strategic position on NATO’s eastern flank, bordering Ukraine, makes its political trajectory a matter of global concern. The country has been a key supporter of Kyiv, exporting 30 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain through its Black Sea port of Constanța and training Ukrainian pilots. Simion’s opposition to military aid and his calls to renegotiate Romania’s NATO commitments have raised fears of destabilization. A Simion presidency could align Romania with Eurosceptic states like Hungary, challenging EU cohesion and weakening NATO’s response to Russia’s aggression.

Simion’s alignment with Trump’s MAGA movement, including meetings with U.S. figures like Steve Bannon, has further complicated Romania’s transatlantic ties. Some analysts celebrated Simion’s victory as a rebuke to EU interference, reflecting a segment of international support for his nationalist agenda.

Democratic Resilience or Authoritarian Slide?

Romania’s electoral crisis is not an isolated case but part of a broader pattern of what critics describe as political persecution by Brussels’ leftist elites to suppress populist movements across Europe. In Germany, the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), which secured 20.8% of the vote in the 2025 federal election, was labeled a “confirmed right-wing extremist endeavor” by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution on May 2, 2025, enabling surveillance and potential bans to curb its influence. Similarly, in France, Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally, was convicted in March 2025 for alleged EU fund misuse, facing a five-year ban from public office, a move critics like Matteo Salvini called a Brussels-orchestrated effort to eliminate a populist threat before the 2027 election. In Austria, the EU has threatened sanctions against the Freedom Party (FPÖ) for its anti-immigration stance, while Hungary’s Viktor Orbán faces €22 billion in withheld EU funds for alleged rule-of-law violations, seen by 42% of Hungarians as sovereignty erosion, per a 2024 Eurobarometer survey. These actions, justified as democratic safeguards, are decried as elite-driven attempts to silence dissent, fueling populist narratives continent-wide.

The runoff between Simion and Nicușor Dan will test Romania’s democratic resilience. Dan, a reformist mayor known for improving Bucharest’s infrastructure, appeals to urban, pro-EU voters but faces challenges unifying the fragmented PSD-PNL coalition. A 2025 IRES poll projected a close race, with Simion at 52% and Dan at 46%. Simion’s broader appeal, particularly among rural and diaspora voters, makes him the favorite, but Dan’s focus on transparency and EU alignment could sway undecided voters.