Hard-right populist George Simion is challenging the results of Romania’s recent presidential election. The 38-year-old had been a strong contender, but he unexpectedly lost to pro-Western candidate Nicusor Dan over the weekend.
Simion claimed to have evidence of foreign interference in the election, alleging that countries like France and Moldova manipulated the vote. He stated, "We now have irrefutable evidence of meddling… to impose a result that does not reflect the sovereign will of the Romanian people." In the first round of voting, Simion received nearly 41% of the votes, leading by a significant margin. However, in the second round, Dan, the mayor of Bucharest, won with 54% against Simion’s 46%.
The election saw a high voter turnout of 64.7%, the highest in 25 years for Romania. This turnout is believed to have helped Dan secure his victory. Following the election, Simion submitted a formal request to Romania’s Constitutional Court to annul the results.
Dan, a 55-year-old mathematician, ran as an independent candidate. His campaign focused on fighting corruption and supporting Ukraine. After his victory, he called for unity, saying, "We need to build Romania together irrespective of who you voted for."
The situation has become tense, with Simion urging his supporters to flood the Constitutional Court with demands for a new election. He has also encouraged them to use the messaging app Telegram for communication, citing concerns over media bias against him.
This election has stirred up significant political drama in Romania. Simion’s claims of manipulation echo past allegations of electoral interference, raising questions about the integrity of the democratic process. As Romania prepares for Dan’s presidency, the country’s judiciary faces a difficult decision on how to handle Simion’s accusations. The unfolding events promise to keep Romania in the spotlight as both sides navigate the aftermath of a contentious election.