BUCHAREST — Romania’s political spotlight is firmly fixed on George Simion, the far-right frontrunner in the nation’s presidential race, who’s doubling down on his support for Donald Trump and the broader MAGA ideology ahead of Sunday’s election rerun.
Despite Trump’s popularity slump in the U.S., Simion is betting on the MAGA message to drive home a win.
Sporting Trump campaign gear and fresh from a Washington tour, the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) leader gave interviews to prominent American right-wing figures, including Steve Bannon and Jack Posobiec.
“We are the natural allies of the Republican Party, and we’re almost perfectly aligned ideologically with the MAGA movement,” Simion told POLITICO.
U.S. Conservatives Watching Closely
The Romanian election has garnered attention from high-profile U.S. conservatives like JD Vance and Elon Musk, following the shock annulment of last December’s first-round vote. Romanian authorities cited interference and cyber attacks, allegedly from Russia, as the reason for cancelling the vote.
However, Simion’s camp claims foul play, arguing that the real motive was to suppress the rise of Călin Georgescu, a nationalist figure with Kremlin leanings who had won the first round.
Now, with the rerun set for May 4, followed by a potential run-off on May 18, Simion is capitalising on Georgescu’s support base. If victorious, the 38-year-old says Georgescu will take on a major role — possibly even as prime minister.
“We’re now in a campaign to reinstate democracy, the people’s will, the rule of law and the constitutional order,” Simion declared.
A Radical Vision for Romania
AUR is pushing a hardline nationalist agenda. Founded in 2019, the party now holds the second-largest bloc in Parliament. Simion, who placed fourth in the annulled election, is now polling at 29 percent, ahead of rivals Crin Antonescu (22%) and Nicușor Dan (20%).
Simion’s irredentist vision — dreaming of a greater Romania — has raised regional alarms. Though he denies pro-Russian sympathies, he wants to cut military aid to Ukraine and has been banned from entering both Ukraine and Moldova.
Critics fear his victory could destabilise Romania’s position in the EU and NATO. Simion’s recent U.S. outreach came under scrutiny after documents surfaced showing an attempt to hire a lobbying firm for $1.5 million to secure high-profile meetings and media exposure.
While Simion insists it was merely a “letter of intent,” not a formal agreement, Romania’s Permanent Electoral Authority has launched an investigation into AUR’s financing.
Antonescu was blunt in his criticism: “Instead of fighting for Romania here, he chooses to pay someone else, there, to humiliate all of us.”
Simion isn’t shying away from Georgescu either. He openly promises to give him a leading role in government.
“I think that’s the normal thing, for him to occupy the role he wants… It’s a way to go back to normal and fix whatever can still be fixed because democracy and Romanians’ trust in the rule of law were gravely wounded,” said Simion.
Can Simion Deliver?
Romania’s president can nominate a prime minister, but parliamentary approval is still needed. With AUR in opposition, any appointment would face stiff resistance from the current ruling coalition of PSD and PNL — Antonescu’s backers.
Simion argues that a poor performance by Antonescu could force the coalition to accept change at the top.
The far right has gained traction by tapping into long-standing resentment toward the political elite. Many Romanians blame establishment parties for chronic corruption and the perceived undermining of democracy — a narrative Simion is leveraging.
He also faces allegations of breaking data protection laws after sending personalised campaign letters that triggered GDPR complaints. One regional authority has already referred the matter to prosecutors.
Pro-U.S., Anti-Russia — But Not Pro-EU Interference
While Simion tries to stay clear of being labelled pro-Russian, he still opposes ongoing support for Ukraine. At the same time, he’s presenting himself as the bridge to keeping U.S. troops stationed in Romania.
“What we wish, as a country affected by German and Russian imperialism in history, is that this peace formula comes with new security guarantees… so that Russia cannot do again what it did,” he said.
Though accused of euroscepticism, Simion insists Romania should remain in both the EU and NATO — but on different terms.
“I don’t believe that a defence force led by France and Great Britain could be an alternative… the Pax Americana formula worked,” he stated.
He supports Trump’s view that NATO members must increase their defence budgets: “All countries must raise this spending; I find it fair to pay for your own security and to invest in your own security.”
George Simion is reshaping Romania’s political battlefield. Backed by a potent mix of nationalism, populism, and MAGA-style rhetoric, he’s positioning himself as the anti-establishment voice many Romanians feel they’ve been waiting for.
But whether this strategy wins hearts across the broader electorate remains uncertain. What is clear, though, is that his rise has already unsettled the political status quo, both at home and abroad.
