TWTW Note

Photo Source: Daniel Mihailescu/AFP
   NIAS Course on Global Politics
National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS)
Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore
For any further information or to subscribe to GP alerts send an email to subachandran@nias.res.in

CWA # 1682
TWTW Note
Presidential elections in Romania:
Pro-EU narrative to prevail
The World This Week #312 Vol 7, No 21, 25 May 2025

  Abhiruchi Chowdhury
25 May 2025

The following note was first published as a part of The World This Week #312 Vol 7, No 21, 25 May 2025 
 
Presidential elections in Romania: 
Pro-EU narrative to prevail
Abhiruchi Chowdhury

What happened?
On 18 May, pro-EU and liberal candidate, Nicusor Dan clinched victory in the final round of the Presidential elections, receiving 54 per cent of the total votes. George Simion finished second, receiving 46 per cent of the vote. The voting turnout for the final round remained at 65 per cent. EU President Ursula von der Leyen saw the results as positive and something which would help in moving “towards a strong Europe.”

On 22 May, the constitutional court of Romania upheld election results. George Simion had challenged the election results, alleging interference from France and Moldova; however, the court had dismissed his plea. On this Simion commented on his social media “the court has continued its coup d’etat.”

On the same day, at the “Black Sea and Balkan security Forum,” Dan pledged support to Ukraine against Russia. He said “aid to Ukraine will continue, of course, we all want to reach peace, or at least an armistice as quickly as possible.”

What is the background?
First, a brief note on recent elections and the powers of President. In the first round of Presidential elections, George Simion received 40.96 per cent of the votes. Dan had received just 21 per cent of the total votes in the first round. The latest elections took place as a result of constitutional court declaring the Presidential elections held in November 2024 as invalid.  There were reports suggesting that Russia had meddled in the elections through its “cyber activities.” In Romania, President is seen as an intermediary between the subsidiaries of power and society. The tenure of the President is for five years in total and cannot serve more than two terms.  It is mandated that the elected President maintains neutrality and maintain a firm control over the security policies of Romania. The President also has the power to veto against any decision taken by the government over security.

Second, a brief note on the Presidential candidates. Nicusor Dan had actively advocated against corruption in Romania for a substantial period of time. His election campaign focused on fighting against corruption, maintaining close ties with the EU and NATO countries, and continuing support to Ukraine. Geroge Simion is seen as leaning towards extreme right. He is the head of the nationalist alliance that advocates for re-establishing Romania’s former borders. He firmly stands against giving Ukraine any further military assistance and had maintained an anti-EU stance. Simion was extremely popular among Romanians who reside outside the country especially in Italy, Spain and Germany. Simion had garnered support from those Romanians who had earlier voted for Georgescu in the nullified elections.

Third, current political issues in Romania. Similar to the other countries in Europe, the Romanian society is divided in providing financial assistance to Ukraine. People are also divided on whether Romania should maintain close ties with Russia or continue to be pro-EU. The surge in food prices and inflation in the economy is another key issue that has been a concern for the Romanian voters. Romania is also engulfed with prevalent graft practices. The Romanian population has little faith over the public institutions and the people in politics.

What does it mean?
First, Romania would continue to back Ukraine against Russia. Also, an EU friendly President for Romania means that the country would try to further try to strengthen its ties with EU and NATO countries.

Second, the threat of an anti-EU and pro-Russia alliance within the European Union has subsided. Analysts had feared that Romania would join countries like Hungary and Slovakia which have pro-Russian and Eurosceptic leaders.

About the author 
Abhiruchi Chowdhury is a Research Assistant at NIAS. 

Print Bookmark

PREVIOUS COMMENTS

Global Politics Explainer
June 2025 | CWA # 1722

Rizwana Banu S

Diego Garcia: 
TWTW Note
June 2025 | CWA # 1694

Aashish Ganeshan

The US:
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1689

Padmashree Anandhan

Ukraine
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1688

Ayan Datta

Gaza
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1675

Lekshmi MK

Turkey:
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1673

Padmashree Anandhan

Ukraine:
TWTW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1667

R Preetha and Brighty Ann Sarah

East Asia:
NIAS Global Politics Database
March 2024 | CWA # 1251

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
NIAS Global Politics Database
February 2024 | CWA # 1226

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1189

Hoimi Mukherjee | Hoimi Mukherjee is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science in Bankura Zilla Saradamani Mahila Mahavidyapith.

Chile in 2023: Crises of Constitutionality
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1187

Aprajita Kashyap | Aprajita Kashyap is a faculty of Latin American Studies, School of International Studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi.

Haiti in 2023: The Humanitarian Crisis
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1185

Binod Khanal | Binod Khanal is a Doctoral candidate at the Centre for European Studies, School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi.

The Baltic: Energy, Russia, NATO and China
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1183

Padmashree Anandhan | Padmashree Anandhan is a Research Associate at the School of Conflict and Security Studies, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangaluru.

Germany in 2023: Defence, Economy and Energy Triangle
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1178

​​​​​​​Ashok Alex Luke | Ashok Alex Luke is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science at CMS College, Kottayam.

China and South Asia in 2023: Advantage Beijing?
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1177

Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri | Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri is a postgraduate student at the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies at the University of Madras, Chennai.

China and East Asia
The War in Ukraine
October 2023 | CWA # 1091

Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri

Issues for Europe
IPRI Quarterly Forecasts I Triggers, Trends, and Trajectories
July 2023 | CWA # 1012

Bibhu Prasad Routray

Myanmar continues to burn
2022: The World This Year
December 2022 | CWA # 879

Padmashree Anandhan

The Ukraine War
Europe: Heatwaves, Wildfires, Droughts, and Ice Melt in Alps
November 2022 | CWA # 838

Rishma Banerjee

Tracing Europe's droughts
NIAS Africa Weekly
March 2022 | CWA # 705

NIAS Africa Team

In Focus: Libya
The World This Week: 150th Issue
December 2021 | CWA # 630

GP Team

Europe in 2021
Pakistan Reader
October 2021 | CWA # 588

Abigail Miriam Fernandez

TLP is back again
NIAS Fortnightly on Science, Technology & International Relations
August 2021 | CWA # 528

STIR Team

Space Tourism
Science, Technology and International Relations
September 2019 | CWA # 162

Lakshman Chakravarthy N

5G: A Primer
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 71

Mahesh Bhatta | Centre for South Asian Studies, Kathmandu

Nepal
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 70

Nasima Khatoon | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

The Maldives
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 69

Harini Madhusudan | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

India
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 68

Sourina Bej | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

Bangladesh
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 67

Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

Afghanistan