Skip next section Centrist, pro-EU Dan wins Romania’s presidential run-offMay 18, 2025
Centrist, pro-EU Dan wins Romania’s presidential run-offDan, an independent, favors close ties with the EU and NATOImage: Andreea Alexandru/AP Photo/picture allianceRomania’s centrist Nicusor Dan, the mayor of Bucharest, has won Sunday’s presidential election run-off.
Near complete results showed Dan winning 54%, while his opponent, the hard-right Donald Trump admirer George Simion won 46%.
Despite the results, Simion has said his Alliance for the Union of Romanians were the “clear winners.”
“We claim this victory on behalf of the Romanian people,” Simion told his supporters in Bucharest.
Ahead of the election, Simion had made claims, without providing evidence, of electoral fraud.
Dan, an independent who favors closer ties with Europe, had campaigned for an “honest” Romania.
Both candidates claiming victory in Romanian electionTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
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Skip next section Dan warns of ‘difficult times’ as Simion claims win May 18, 2025
Dan warns of ‘difficult times’ as Simion claims win Romania’s centrist presidential candidate Nicusor Dan, who is neck and neck with hard-right candidate George Simion according to early results, praised Romania’s strength but warned that tough economic times lay ahead.
Exit polls after the second round of the presidential election show Dan leading Simion, a right-wing populist and supporter of US President Donald Trump.
Dan told reporters after polls had closed on Sunday evening that “a community of Romanians has won, a community that wants a profound change in Romania.”
“When Romania goes through difficult times, let us remember the strength of this Romanian society,” he said.
Right-wing populist candidate George Simion contested the election resultImage: Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo/picture alliance “There will be a difficult period ahead, necessary for economic rebalancing to lay the foundations of a healthy society. Please have hope and patience,” Dan added.
Simion, however, contested the exit polls, saying he had secured 400,000 more votes than his centrist rival.
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Skip next section Centrist Nicusor Dan leads, exit polls showMay 18, 2025
Centrist Nicusor Dan leads, exit polls showExit polls favored Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan to win Sunday’s presidential runoff.
The pro-EU centrist was ahead with 54.9%, exit polls suggested, whereas his hard-right rival George Simion was on 45.1%.
Official results are expected later on Sunday or in the early hours of Monday.
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Skip next section Polls close in Romania’s presidential electionMay 18, 2025
Polls close in Romania’s presidential electionPolls have closed in the runoff round of Romania’s presidential election, where hard-right candidate George Simion is facing off against pro-EU Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan.
https://p.dw.com/p/4uYm1
Skip next section Paris denies Telegram founder’s allegations about interference in Romanian voteMay 18, 2025
Paris denies Telegram founder’s allegations about interference in Romanian voteFrance has denied what officials called “completely unfounded allegations” regarding interference in Romania’s presidential election.
“France categorically rejects these allegations and calls on everyone to exercise responsibility and respect for Romanian democracy,” the French Foreign Ministry wrote on X, in reference to a statement by Telegram founder Pavel Durov, claiming that a Western European country he did not name, but hinted was France, had asked the platform to “silence conservative voices.”
The French Foreign Ministry noted that the first round of elections in December was annulled amid reports of electoral violations and interference by Russia.
“In this context, the recent accusations against France are merely a diversionary maneuver from the real threats of interference targeting Romania,” the ministry said.
The ministry also stressed France’s support for Romania in its EU accession in 2007, as well as militarily.
“Lying about France, insulting it, is breaking this history,” the ministry posted.
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Skip next section Bucharest cites ‘hallmarks of Russian interference’ at presidential voteMay 18, 2025
Bucharest cites ‘hallmarks of Russian interference’ at presidential voteRomania said it was debunking “a viral campaign of fake news” on social media platforms including Telegram during the presidential election.
“During Romania’s ongoing presidential elections yet again we see the hallmarks of Russian interference,” the Foreign Ministry spokesman said in a statement on X, adding that a viral campaign “is aimed to influence the electoral process.”
“This was expected and authorities debunked the fake news.”
The statement followed a post by Telegram founder Pavel Durov claiming that a Western European nation he did not name (but suggested was France) had asked the platform to “silence conservative voices” in Romania.
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Skip next section Western government asked Telegram to ‘silence conservative voices,’ platform founder claimsMay 18, 2025
Western government asked Telegram to ‘silence conservative voices,’ platform founder claimsPavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messaging app, claimed on Sunday that the platform was approached by a Western European government, asking it “to silence conservative voices in Romania ahead of today’s presidential elections.”
Though he did not name the government, he posted the emoji of a baguette.
“I flatly refused,” Durov wrote in a post on the platform. “Telegram will not restrict the freedoms of Romanian users or block their political channels.”
The Telegram founder argued that democracy cannot be defended by “destroying” it.
“You can’t ‘fight election interference’ by interfering with elections,” Durov wrote. “You either have freedom of speech and fair elections — or you don’t.”
A first round of the Romanian presidential election, held last year, was annulled following reports of electoral violations and interference by Russia. The Kremlin denies the accusations.
The Russian-born, Dubai-based Durov was detained in France last year amid an investigation into crimes related to child pornography, drug trafficking and fraudulent transactions associated with Telegram.
Durov returned to Dubai in March. He denies any wrongdoing.
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Skip next section Quarter of eligible voters cast ballot by noonMay 18, 2025
Quarter of eligible voters cast ballot by noonOfficial electoral data has shown that more than 4.6 million people — 25% of eligible voters — had cast their ballot by noon (0900 UTC).
Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. local time and were to close at 9 p.m.
More the 750,000 Romanians living abroad have also voted since special polling stations outside the country opened on Friday.
https://p.dw.com/p/4uXgm
Skip next section Why was the Romanian election annulled?May 18, 2025
Why was the Romanian election annulled?The previous presidential election, held in November, saw far-right, pro-Russia political outsider Calin Georgescu surprisingly come out on top in the first round.
The vote was later annulled by Romania’s constitutional court, which found irregularities in the financing and organization of the leading campaign.
Alleged electoral violations included the activation of thousands of previously inactive social media accounts to spread pro-Georgescu messaging as part of an “aggressive Russian hybrid attack,” which Moscow denies.
Romanian public prosecutors in February opened an investigation into Georgescu, who had been banned from standing again in May’s rerun.
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Skip next section Who are the candidates?May 18, 2025
Who are the candidates?George Simion, representing the hard-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), has counted on support from disgruntled Georgescu voters.
Many are concerned not only by high inflation and the increasing cost of living in the EU country but are now also influenced by conspiracy theories regarding the cancellation of the original vote.
Far-right candidate stokes fear among Romania’s JewsTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Simion has described his AUR party, which promotes “family, nation, faith and freedom,” as “perfectly aligned with the MAGA [President Donald Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’] movement” in the US and has not ruled out appointing Georgescu as prime minister should he win.
Simion’s challenger is incumbent Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, a 55-year-old mathematician and former anti-corruption activist who founded the Save Romania Union party (USR) in 2016. He is running on a pro-EU “Honest Romania” platform.
Acknowledging the issues facing Romanians, he said the Eastern European country needs a president “who has the will and the ability to reform the system.”
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Skip next section Polls open with tight second round expectedMay 18, 2025
Polls open with tight second round expectedPolls opened for the second round of the Romanian presidential election, with a high voter turnout expected.
About 53% of the population, or 9.5 million people, voted in the first round, on May 4,. Hard-right candidate George Simion topped the first round, gaining 41% of the vote.
He is now facing off against pro-EU Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan, who came second in the May 4 vote.
Pro-EU Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu resigned following the first round, saying his ruling coalition had “no legitimacy” after populist Simion secured over 40% of the vote.
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Skip next section Welcome to our coverageMay 18, 2025
Welcome to our coverageRomanians are casting their ballots on Sunday to elect a new president in a tense runoff between a hard-right nationalist and a pro-EU centrist.
The race pits George Simion, the 38-year-old leader of the hard-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, or AUR, against Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan.
The vote comes months after the cancellation of the previous election — over allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference — plunged Romania into its worst political crisis in decades.
DW will bring you the latest news and analysis regarding the election. Stay tuned for more.
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