Pro-Trump populist leads field in Romania’s high-stakes election rerun

Romanian far-right leader George Simion, who is leading the polls ahead of the country’s presidential election rerun, is doubling down on his support for U.S. President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement, despite Trump’s faltering approval ratings.

Simion, the head of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), said his party is “ideologically almost perfectly aligned” with Trump’s Republican Party, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media. 

His remarks come just days after returning from a visit to Washington, where he met with former Trump adviser Steve Bannon and right-wing activist Jack Posobiec.

“We are the natural allies of the Republican Party, and we’re almost perfectly aligned ideologically with the MAGA movement,” Simion said. 

The presidential rerun was scheduled after the original election in December was annulled by Romanian authorities, citing interference and “aggressive” hybrid threats linked to Russia. The far right claims the vote was overturned to block the first-round victory of nationalist candidate Călin Georgescu, who has expressed sympathy towards the Kremlin.

The rerun’s first round will be held on May 4, followed by a second round on May 18 if no candidate secures an outright majority. Simion, 38, is currently projected to lead with around 29% of the vote, according to POLITICO’s Poll of Polls, followed by former Liberal Party leader Crin Antonescu on 22% and Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan on 20%.

Simion has pledged to offer Georgescu a senior government role if elected, possibly even the prime ministership, although the appointment would require parliamentary support. Romania’s current coalition government is led by the centre-left Social Democrats (PSD) and the National Liberal Party (PNL), who back Antonescu.

The AUR, a socially conservative party founded in 2019, has surged in popularity on a platform of nationalism and anti-establishment rhetoric. It currently holds the second-largest number of seats in parliament. The party espouses irredentist views, including ambitions to restore a “Greater Romania,” raising concerns about potential disputes with Ukraine, Moldova and Bulgaria.

Simion denies being pro-Russian but has called for an end to military aid to Ukraine. He insists Romania should remain in NATO and the European Union, though he wants the EU to focus exclusively on economic matters and refrain from intervening in cultural or defence issues.

“I don’t believe that a defence force led by France and Great Britain could be an alternative to the security solution that worked since World War II, the Pax Americana formula,” Simion said.

“All countries must raise this spending; I find it fair to pay for your own security and to invest in your own security.”

Simion has come under scrutiny for a proposed $1.5 million deal with a U.S. lobbying firm aimed at securing meetings with influential American figures and media exposure. The deal, which Simion described as a non-binding letter of intent, has prompted Romania’s election watchdog to investigate whether state funds allocated to political parties were misused.

Antonescu criticised Simion’s approach, accusing him of promoting “a personality cult” and relying on foreign conspiracists rather than addressing Romania’s issues directly.

Simion also faces a probe over possible breaches of data protection rules, after voters complained of receiving unsolicited campaign letters. Authorities have referred the matter to prosecutors.

Previously barred from entering Ukraine and Moldova over his nationalist campaigning, Simion has attempted to distance himself from Russia while maintaining a hard-line stance on Ukraine. He said he hoped Trump would help bring peace to the region, provided it includes “new security guarantees” to prevent future Russian aggression.

Simion denies accusations that he seeks to pull Romania out of the EU but has emphasised a need to reduce the bloc’s influence over national matters.

His critics, including Mayor Dan, have accused him of fomenting violence and undermining democratic norms. Last year, Simion caused controversy by suggesting those who opposed Georgescu’s candidacy should be “flayed.”

Whether Simion can broaden his support in the second round will be crucial. AUR remains in opposition, and any path to the presidency could depend on his ability to sway voters from Romania’s mainstream parties, which he accuses of clinging to power since the fall of communism.

“The government organised the campaign and the election, and they lost,” Simion said of the annulled vote.

By Aghakazim Guliyev