EDITOR'S CORNER: Romania, Where Will You Stand in History?

This weekend, Romania faces the second round of presidential elections, a decisive runoff between Nicușor Dan and George Simion. Ever since the controversial cancellation of last November’s vote—originally set between Elena Lasconi and far-right candidate Călin Georgescu—tensions have run high. Was it truly undemocratic to annul an election that appeared to be clearly sabotaged?

In this post, I want to explore who these two candidates are, and why it matters that the centrist voice prevails. We'll also take a closer look at the legitimacy of the cancelled elections and whether the public backlash has been justified. And finally, what could it mean for Romania if Simion becomes president?

WHO IS NICUȘOR DAN?

Nicușor Dan was born on December 20, 1969, in Făgăraș, Brașov County. He was born during communism in Romania, His father was a laborer and his mother was an accountant. The numbers gift was also passed to him. A gifted mathematician, he earned a gold medal in the Math Olypmics in 1987 and 1988 with full points. 

After graduating high school, he moved to Bucharest to study at the university. In 1992, he moved to France on a full scholarship to study at the  École Normale Supérieure, which is one of the most prestigious institutions in France. He earned his Ph.D. in France before returning home to found the Şcoala Normală Superioară Bucureşti (SNSB) —an institution focused on mentoring Romania’s top scientific talent. But Dan’s path quickly shifted from academia to activism, as he became a visible figure in the fight for a more lawful and livable capital through the “Save Bucharest” association.

Frustrated by systemic dysfunction in the city, Dan entered politics—not out of ambition, but necessity. His early campaigns for Mayor of Bucharest in 2012 and 2016 drew significant grassroots support. In 2016, he founded what would become the Save Romania Union (USR), a party built on transparency, civic responsibility, and rule of law. Though he narrowly lost the 2016 mayoral race, he secured a seat on the General Council. In 2020, voters gave him the mayoral mandate with 42.8% of the vote, and again in 2024, with 46.9%.

As mayor, Dan has stayed focused on infrastructure reform, heritage preservation, and modernizing public services. Critics call his style technocratic and sometimes slow-moving—but few question his integrity or intentions. 

In 2025, he stepped onto the national stage, announcing his run for the presidency. His campaign promises to extend his pragmatic, data-driven approach—and his belief in civic duty—to all of Romania.

Nicuşor Dan

WHO IS GEORGE SIMION?

George Simion, born in 1986 in Focșani, has become one of the most polarizing figures in Romanian politics. Originally known for his activism around Romanian nationalism and the unification of Romania with Moldova, Simion built his reputation on populist rhetoric, street protests, and a strong social media presence. Over time, his message hardened into something more ideologically rigid—firmly anti-EU, anti-establishment, and often conspiratorial.

Simion co-founded the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) in 2019, a party that quickly gained traction among voters disillusioned with the political mainstream. Running on a platform of nationalism, traditional values, and skepticism toward Western institutions, AUR shocked many by securing seats in Parliament in the 2020 elections. Since then, the party has only grown in profile, fueled by culture-war messaging and a direct challenge to liberal democratic norms.

Simion’s critics accuse him of courting extremism and flirting with authoritarianism. His speeches often frame Romania as under siege—from globalist elites, the EU, and progressive movements—and his political style leans more toward agitation than governance. Supporters, however, see him as a truth-teller and defender of national sovereignty.

Now a leading candidate in the 2025 presidential race, Simion represents more than just a political alternative—he stands for a different vision of Romania’s future: inward-looking, defiant, and unafraid to challenge the post-1989 democratic consensus. Whether that vision appeals to a majority of voters remains to be seen, but the stakes could not be higher.

George Simion

WHY WHERE THE PREVIOUS ELECTIONS CANCELLED?

In this blog post, I outlined in-depth what happened on 6th December 2024 when the first Romanian Presidential elections were cancelled. In brief, investigations by the Romanian Secret Services (SRI) revealed that Călin Georgescu’s presidential campaign was significantly boosted by a coordinated foreign influence operation, with strong—though unofficial—indications pointing toward Russia. 

In the two weeks leading up to the cancelled November 24th election, around 25,000 social media accounts, many newly created or suspiciously dormant since 2016, began aggressively promoting Georgescu. The patterns bore striking resemblance to known disinformation tactics, including those linked to Russian operations during the 2016 U.S. election. These accounts were coordinated via Telegram and used algorithm-manipulation strategies to amplify their content, making it appear authentic and widespread.

In addition to the digital manipulation, serious doubts emerged about the transparency of Georgescu’s campaign financing. Despite his claims of spending nothing, his campaign was visibly well-funded, with widespread advertising and paid influencer endorsements. Some influencers later admitted to being compensated and expressed regret over their role. Confronted with what amounted to a hybrid warfare operation undermining electoral integrity, the Romanian Constitutional Court ruled that the election had been too compromised to proceed. 

By annulling the results, the Court aimed to protect democratic processes and send a clear message against foreign electoral interference.

WHAT ABOUT THE PUBLIC BACKLASH? 

The results—both from within Romania and the diaspora—make it clear: George Simion enjoys widespread popularity across different segments of Romanian society. A significant part of that support, I believe, stems from the public backlash following the cancelled elections on December 6th of last year. But why did that event resonate so strongly?

We can see in Romania, Simon had a strong lead. 

To start with, Simion openly declared that he would appoint Călin Georgescu as Prime Minister if elected. Since then, he has relentlessly pushed the narrative that the annulled elections were unconstitutional and an assault on democracy. I don’t fully agree with him—but I understand where the anger comes from. If Romanian authorities had taken more seriously the patterns of Russian interference seen in places like Moldova, Georgia, and the United States, more safeguards might have been in place before the election. That could have prevented the need to cancel the vote entirely. 

Votes in Diaspora also favoured George Simion

So yes, I get why people feel a sense of injustice. Many Romanians genuinely voted for Georgescu, even if they were influenced by manipulated content on TikTok. And now, it seems, they’re coming out in even greater numbers—not just to support the far right, but to make a statement: that their votes, however shaped, still count.

WHO SHOULD WIN?

For me, this isn’t a difficult question. I fully believe that Nicușor Dan should win. In today’s global context, Romania simply cannot afford to turn its back on the European Union, on NATO, or to embrace an isolationist path. Simion has made his position crystal clear—he would veto EU decisions on aid and weapons for Ukraine. That kind of stance puts Romania on a dangerous trajectory.

Romania does not need to become another Hungary. Simion has no real track record of delivering anything positive, and his political style is aggressive, impulsive, and often borderline thuggish. Is Nicușor Dan perfect? No. I understand the criticism—he didn’t manage Bucharest as well as many hoped, and people worry he might mismanage the country in the same way. But when faced with two flawed options, we have to choose the better one. And between the two, Dan is clearly the better choice. He’s educated, thoughtful, and composed—qualities we need now more than ever.

CONCLUSION 

As Romanians head to the polls this Sunday, I urge you to think carefully about your vote. The right candidate is not the one shouting slogans or playing the role of Trump 2.0. Empty promises and inflammatory speeches won’t move our country forward—they’ll drag us 30 years backward. The leader Romania needs right now is one who is pro-European, pro-NATO, and committed to guiding us through this period of global uncertainty. Especially now, as the bear in the East once again turns its gaze toward Europe.

And I’ll say this as many times as it takes: helping Ukraine is not wasted money. Europe must stand with Ukraine. They are fighting not just for their own freedom, but for the freedom, safety, and democracy of all of us. Ukrainians are dying on the battlefield so that your sons, husbands, and brothers don’t have to fight on the frontlines against Russia. 

Let’s be clear—Russia is an aggressive, threatening, and terroristic neighbor. It will bring chaos and violence to every country that stands in its way. Putin’s vision is imperialist; he wants to rebuild the USSR. We must wake up to the reality that war in Europe is no longer a distant possibility. The time to act with clarity and courage is now.