Repeated Elections
George Simion won the first circular of presidential elections in Romania, winning as the leader of the right-wing AUR party. In the second round, he will face Nicusor Dan, the centre-right mayor of Bucharest. Dan, who defeated Crin Antonescu, a candidate supported by the ruling coalition, finished second after the votes were calculated.
Data from 97,59% of the electoral commissions indicate that Dan won 20.65% of the vote, while Simion 40.15%.
Sunday elections were a re-vote due to the fact that the Constitutional Court annulled the first circular of December 2024. The annulment resulted from allegations of abuse in the run of 1 of the candidates, Calin Georgesc, who won the first round, as well as alleged support from Russia.
Peace talks
In an interview with DW Ukraine George Simion said:
We must accomplish a ceasefire. And we must pray and hope that Donald Trump's peace talks will work.
George Simion stressed that his organization promotes peace and sees a solution to the conflict only through deescalation. He pointed out that transportation of arms is not beneficial for Germany, France, Romania or Poland, which have suffered heavy from the war and request peace. Simion added that Romania and another European countries should search a swift truce in Ukraine and engage in peace negotiations alternatively of escalating conflict through further arms supplies.
He besides recalled the words of Donald Trump, who appealed for the end of the war to avoid civilian casualties. Simion has repeatedly stressed that his organization will halt military aid for Ukraine.
Simion's opponent accuses him of prorossiness
The election was besides discussed by the counter-candidate Simiona Nicosor Dan. He spoke for Digi24 Station:
Whether I enter the second circular or not, it will be a dispute between the pro-Western candidate and the anti-Western candidate – and I believe that this is what the run should be about – the preservation of the western direction of Romania, which means membership of the European Union, membership which means prosperity, membership of NATO.
