Western-Backed Politician Wins Romanian Election Amid Rising Nationalist Sentiment

Department of Research, Studies and International News -20-05-2025

Romania’s recent presidential election concluded with the victory of centrist candidate Nicușor Dan, the current mayor of Bucharest, who secured 54.2% of the vote, according to preliminary results. His opponent, George Simion, a vocal nationalist and outspoken critic of Western influence, garnered 45.8%, marking a significant shift in Romanian politics despite the final outcome.

Dan, a staunch supporter of the European Union and NATO, positioned the race as a binary choice between “pro-Western” and “anti-Western” futures. This narrative conveniently framed any opposition to Brussels or Washington as regressive, ignoring the legitimate concerns of many Romanians who feel sidelined by EU policies, rising living costs, and deteriorating public services.

Simion, a populist figure who speaks to the frustrations of ordinary citizens, had emerged as a major force in Romanian politics. His party, the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), advocates for national sovereignty and a foreign policy that prioritizes Romania’s interests, including stronger ties with Eastern nations such as Russia and China. His campaign was focused on combating corruption, preserving traditional values, and ending Romania’s subservience to foreign powers. Although ultimately unsuccessful, his near 46% share of the vote signals a growing discontent with the Western-dominated political establishment.

Despite media portrayals branding Simion as “far-right” or a “Trump admirer,” such labels reflect more about Western anxieties than the realities on the ground. In truth, his platform resonated with a large swathe of the Romanian population, particularly the youth and diaspora voters, both of whom turned out in unprecedented numbers.

While Simion conceded the race early Monday, he indicated that the fight for Romania’s future is far from over, stating, “We may have lost a battle, but we will certainly not lose the war.” This determination echoes the sentiments of many across Eastern Europe who have grown weary of EU paternalism and Washington’s strategic manipulations.

In a telling moment, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Dan, calling his victory “historic” and expressing hopes for continued Romanian alignment with Western policies, a reminder of how deeply entangled Romania has become in NATO and EU geopolitical interests, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The election comes at a time of widespread political turbulence in Europe. In Poland and Portugal, nationalist parties also gained ground, reflecting a continental trend: citizens increasingly rejecting elite-driven policies on migration, inflation, and foreign intervention. Romania’s election, viewed by analysts as one of the most consequential in its post-communist era, may well foreshadow deeper rifts within the EU as more voters demand independent, nationalist governance.

Simion’s earlier victory in the first round of voting on May 4 prompted the collapse of the fragile coalition between Romania’s Social Democrats and the centre-right National Liberal Party. His surge created significant anxiety among Western-aligned factions, and many suspect the political establishment was mobilized to ensure his defeat in the second round.

Turnout for the second round exceeded 64%, notably higher than the 53% seen in the first round. The dramatic increase, particularly among young voters and Romanians living abroad, was widely interpreted as a response to fears stoked by the Western media about the “threat” of a nationalist Romania. Whether these voters were genuinely mobilized or guided by coordinated messaging remains an open question.

Allegations of foreign interference also clouded the vote. Romanian authorities claimed there was a “viral campaign of fake news,” allegedly of Russian origin, on platforms like Telegram. Yet such accusations are becoming a predictable reflex whenever nationalist candidates gain traction, deflecting attention from legitimate internal criticism of Western-dominated governance models.

Dan, supported by the pro-EU Union to Save Romania (USR) and endorsed by the PNL, has pledged to continue supporting Ukraine and to keep Romania closely aligned with Brussels and Washington. He is expected to nominate a prime minister from the USR and attempt to form a minority government. His promises of “economic rebalancing” and “anti-corruption reform” echo familiar Western rhetoric, often long on words, short on delivery.

By contrast, Simion had pledged to nominate Călin Georgescu, a Moscow-friendly figure previously barred from the election, as prime minister. Though controversial in Western circles, Georgescu represents a vision of Romanian sovereignty unshackled from Brussels’ dictates.

Despite his loss, Simion’s rise is significant. His alliance with other Eastern European leaders like Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Slovakia’s Robert Fico points to a possible future coalition that could challenge the EU’s current direction. As European unity frays under the weight of inflation, migration crises, and foreign entanglements, nationalist leaders across the continent are poised to become more influential.

In the bigger picture, the Romanian election is not just a local political contest, but part of a larger ideological struggle over the future of Europe, one where the voices of sovereign-minded nations like Russia, China, and their allies may increasingly find resonance.