The Romanians will head to the poll on Sunday, May 4th and elect the next president in the first round of their second vote within six months.
Eastern European countries previously held presidential elections on November 24, 2024, from which far-right candidate Karin Georgek, who had voted in single digits during the campaign, won a surprising victory.
The results were nullified after reports emerged about alleged election interference in Russia in support of Georgek, putting the country in a political crisis.
Romanian Election Bureau banned Promoscow’s independence in March. He is currently subject to criminal investigations.
Here’s everything you need to know about redo voting and who are the top candidates:
When and where will the Romanian poll be held?
Voting will open on Sunday, May 4th at 7am (04:00 GMT) and close at 9pm (18:00 GMT).
Voters can vote at any of the 18,979 polling stations nationwide. Countries with large diaspora communities, such as Malta, Italy, Spain, the UK, Germany, France, Moldova and the US, will have an additional 965 stations.
How does presidential elections work in Romania?
The president is elected for a five-year term in a two-round voting system. The president can serve up to two terms.
Candidates must secure at least 50% of registered votes to be declared a winner in the first round.
If no candidate meets the 50% threshold on May 4th, a spill will occur between the two top finishers on May 18th. The candidate with the most votes will be declared the winner.
What are the main issues driving this election?
Wages and inflation
The rising costs of food and other domestic fundamentals can be the biggest drivers of the way people vote.
The country’s economy has been steadily decreasing for decades, forcing many young people to seek jobs abroad. Nearly a third of the population faces poverty.
corruption
There is deep-rooted rage over how the founding party has run the country since the collapse of the communist government in 1989.
According to Transparency International, Romania scores among the bottom four European countries in terms of corruption. Voters generally have little trust in public institutions or politicians.
Ideological differences
Romania, like several other European countries, faces questions from the Population section about its support for Ukraine in the war with Russia. More right-wing voters are opposed to Kiev’s additional support.
Overall, voters are divided between the government wanting a government that is more removed from the West and closer to Russia, and being a pro-European Union and NATO.
This disparity is reflected in the composition of the Romanian Parliament.
Following the parliamentary elections on December 1 last year, Romanian pro-European parties gathered to form a majority government to keep out far-right nationalists.
The Romanian coalition of ruling nations was formed when the European Social Democrats (PSD), which had top polls in the December election but failed to achieve a majority, reached an agreement with the central National Liberal Party (PNL).
Overall, the coalition holds 58 of the 134 seats in the Senate and 135 of the 331 seats in the Senate and House.
On the anti-EU side, the most popular party is the far-right alliance of the Romanian Union (AUR), led by presidential candidate George Simion. He holds 28 seats in the Senate and 61 seats in the proxy room.
The far-right party, Sos Romania, also holds another 12 seats in the Senate and 28 seats of MPs. The Young Party’s far-right party (pot) holds 24 lower seats and 7 upper seats. Overall, these Eurocept political parties hold 113 seats in the Office of the Council, not far behind the 135 of the ruling coalition.
Given this disparity, the EU will look to this presidential election.
Who is the main candidate?
George Simion, 38
According to a Politico politician, right-wing euroskeptic politician, is the leader of the Romanian Union (AUR), and currently leads the vote with support from 30% of voters as of April 26 (average of all polls).
Simion, who is perceived as Pro-Moscow, like Georgescu, a former member of AUR, is backed by Nationalist Camps and criticised the decision to negate the controversial election in November.
He is opposed to same-sex marriage and is Euroceptotic. He also opposed sending aid to Ukraine.
He has defended the reclaiming of territory from Ukraine and Moldova, which once belonged to Romania. In May 2015, Simion was declared “Persona Nongrata” by Moldova and prohibited from entering the country for five years on the grounds that it “has put national security at risk.” The ban was renewed for another five years in February 2024.
Simion was criticized in 2019 for supporting elections to parliament of two former military personnel accused of restraining revolutionaries in the 1989 overthrow of communist rule.
Following the initial exit poll at the party’s campaign headquarters on parliamentary election day held in Bucharest on December 1, 2024, the leaders of the Romanian Union (AUR) Party (AUR) Party are keeping an eye on the first exit poll at the party’s campaign headquarters. [File: Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters]
Crin Antonescu, 65
Independent candidates and longtime politicians are supported by centralists who govern the Social Democrats and Liberal Allies (PSD-PNL).
According to a Politico poll, Antonescu, the Senate speaker and Senate president, had voted at 24% as of April 26th.
He supports Romania’s EU and NATO membership. He also supports sending more assistance to Ukraine.
Antonescu highlights his political experience in his campaign.
Election posters will be viewed in Bucharest before the Romanian presidential election on April 29, 2025 [Andreea Campeanu/Reuters]
Nixondan, 55
According to Politico, the activist and mathematician are the mayor of Bucharest, the position he has held since 2011.
For more than a decade before becoming mayor, Dan opposed the demolition of heritage buildings in the capital and the conversion of public parks to construction sites.
He is preferred by liberal camps who support close ties with the EU and want to prevent the rise of right-wing candidates like Simion, but do not support a centralist coalition.
Dan was re-elected as mayor last June, and his announcement that he would run following the November presidential election was a surprise.
His campaign promise is to reform the system, remove corruption and inefficiency, and increase defence spending. He also promises to unite Romanians across the ideological line.
Presidential candidates Crin Antonescu and Nicusor Dan will take part in a presidential debate hosted by Digi24 TV Station in Bucharest, Romania on April 28, 2025 [Inquam Photos/Octav Ganea via Reuters]
Victor Ponta, 52
According to Politico, Ponta is running for both an independent candidate and an independent candidate under the ruling Social Democrats (PSD) until 2014.
His stint at the top job was tainted by allegations of tax evasion and money laundering, and he was ultimately forced to resign. In 2018, the court acquitted him of the charges and marked his comeback to politics.
Ponta is currently a member of parliament.
He highlights the themes of nationalism and protectionism in his campaign. He is against purchasing Ukrainian grains and wants to protect the interests of Romanian farmers.
Elena Rasconi, 53
Rasconi is a journalist in southern Romania and mayor of Camparun. She is popular with liberal voters.
She died as a political party leader, saving the Romanian Union (USR) and voting with 7% in Politico polls.
Lasconi came in second in the November election and was set to face Georgescu on the Run-Off vote before it was invalidated.
As mayor, she is in favour of EU support and her office said she has allowed Camparung to build parks and other important infrastructure.
What power does the Romanian president have?
Romanian president is the head of state and can issue official statutes.
Under the Constitution, the President has the power to nominate a Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister must be approved by the Congress.
The President does not have the authority to dismiss a Prime Minister once, but if the current Prime Minister becomes incapacitated, he can appoint a proxy Prime Minister. The Prime Minister and his Cabinet have the ultimate control over running the country.
The president is required to maintain a neutral stance in the constitution, but if Simion wins presidency, it will bring him ideologically into conflict with the Union government.
