The 2025 Romanian Presidential Election: Candidates, Controversies, Chances

Romania’s presidential elections, scheduled for May 2025, feature diverse candidates vying for the top position. The race includes prominent figures from major political parties and independent candidates, each with distinct political platforms and voter appeal.

Calin Georgescu, the far-right candidate, is not on the list, as he was banned after the Constitutional Court and Central Electoral Bureau’s decisions. He won last year’s first round of the Presidential Election, but the Constitutional Court cancelled the round and decided the elections should be rerun. Without any reasonable explanation or solid proof, the Romanian authorities blamed “Russian interference” with the Presidential elections, but this is yet to be proved by the juridical system in the country.

Following this series of unilateral decisions made by the Romanian institutions, The Economist mentioned that Romania had slid into authoritarianism. The Economist’s Democracy Index has downgraded Romania from a “flawed democracy” to a “hybrid regime” due to allegations of Russian interference and irregularities in its electoral process.

Based on recent opinion polls, this is an in-depth look at the candidates and their prospects for advancing to the second round.

Candidates Overview

George-Nicolae Simion – Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR)

• Background: Simion is the leader of the far-right AUR party. He has gained traction in recent polls, particularly after Călin Georgescu’s withdrawal from the race.
• Political Position: Simion’s campaign focuses on nationalist themes associated with anti-European sentiments, which could influence Romania’s geopolitical stance.
• Poll Performance: Recent polls place Simion as a frontrunner, with around 29-32% support, making him a strong contender for the second round.
• Controversy: Simion has been involved in several controversies, including being banned from entering Ukraine and Moldova due to his perceived anti-Ukrainian activities and promotion of unionist ideologies. He has also faced accusations of having ties with foreign intelligence agents, including alleged meetings with an FSB agent in Ukraine. Additionally, Simion is known for his aggressive style, having made controversial statements, such as comparing the EU’s actions to Russia’s aggression.

Crin-Laurențiu Antonescu – PSD-PNL Coalition

• Background: Antonescu is the joint candidate of the PSD and PNL, backed by the UDMR. He emerged from political obscurity to unite the coalition against far-right candidates.
• Political Position: Antonescu emphasizes stability and adherence to constitutional principles, aiming to prevent a far-right victory.
• Poll Performance: Antonescu trails behind Simion and Dan, with around 15-22% support. Despite this, his coalition backing keeps him in contention for the second round.
• Controversy: Antonescu has disappeared from public attention during the last 10 years. He mentioned being unemployed and living off his wife’s salary, a living model which contradicts a future President’s life.

Nicușor-Daniel Dan – Independent Candidate

• Background: Dan is the mayor of Bucharest, running as an independent. He appeals to centre-right voters and has been gaining momentum.
• Political Position: Dan’s campaign focuses on transparency and effective governance, attracting voters disillusioned with traditional parties.
• Poll Performance: Dan consistently ranks second or third in polls, with around 17-26% support, making him a likely candidate for the second round.
• Controversy: Dan has faced criticism for handling specific urban development projects in Bucharest, with some accusing him of favouring specific business interests. Moreover, Dan has failed to promote Bucharest to foreign travellers, and one of the president’s main tasks is the country’s representation abroad.

Victor-Viorel Ponta – Independent Candidate

• Background: Ponta is a former prime minister who is running as an independent. He seeks to offer an alternative to traditional party candidates.
• Political Position: Ponta’s campaign emphasizes change and broader voter options.
• Poll Performance: Ponta has gained ground in recent polls, with around 13-23% support. However, his chances of entering the second round are less certain than those of Simion and Dan.
• Controversy: Ponta has faced past corruption allegations linked to the “Colectiv Club” incident when more than sixty youngsters died following the fire that burnt down the location; this led to his resignation as prime minister in 2015. Although acquitted in 2018, these allegations continue to affect public perception of his candidacy.

Elena-Valerica Lasconi – Save Romania Union (USR)

• Background: Lasconi is the USR candidate known for her progressive policies.
• Political Position: Lasconi represents a liberal, reform-oriented platform.
• Poll Performance: Lasconi’s support is around 7-12%, making her less likely to enter the second round despite her performance last year, when she got into the second round along with Georgescu.
• Controversy: Lasconi’s campaign has been criticized for lacking a strong national presence and failing to resonate with voters outside urban areas. Additionally, some have questioned the USR’s ability to implement its proposed reforms effectively, as it failed to do so when it was in power within the ruling coalition.

Chances of Entering the Second Round

The latest opinion polls show that George Simion and Nicușor Dan are the most likely candidates to advance to the second round. Simion’s strong nationalist appeal and Dan’s broad centre-right support position them favourably. Crin Antonescu remains a contender due to his coalition backing, though his chances are less secure than Simion and Dan’s. Also, Ponta is one candidate that can produce big upsets, as he can attract votes from the Nationalists, as he took over some of Georgescu’s ideas, but also from the Socialists, as he was a member of this political party for a long time,

The 2025 Romanian presidential election is marked by a competitive field of candidates, each with unique strengths and voter appeal. As the race progresses, the dynamics between Simion, Dan, and Antonescu will be crucial in determining who advances to the second round. The outcome will significantly influence Romania’s political trajectory and stance within European and global affairs.