Romania is making a significant second attempt at selecting its new president after the country’s highest court annulled last year’s elections. This pivotal moment in Romanian politics is drawing attention both domestically and internationally.
As the December elections approach, concerns are rising regarding the frontrunner, ultranationalist Călin Georgescu, who is alleged to have received undisclosed campaign funding and online promotion potentially linked to Russian influence operations.
This situation has led to a re-election in a nation of 19 million, which is a member of the EU and NATO and shares borders with Ukraine. The outcomes of this election are being closely monitored by officials in Brussels and Washington.
A victory for a far-right candidate this May could pose significant challenges for the European establishment and may align Romania more closely with U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” agenda.
Călin Georgescu is among a group of candidates barred from running by Romanian authorities, primarily due to non-compliance with election regulations during the previous electoral process.
Other candidates faced rejection for failing to gather the required 200,000 signatures supporting their candidacies or for other technicalities. Notably, Romania’s election authorities have also disqualified far-right European Parliament member Diana Șoșoacă from the race due to concerns over her potential impact on Romania’s standing within the EU and NATO.
The pressing question now revolves around whether any candidates can effectively attract Georgescu’s supporters, as multiple contenders vie for this critical voter base.
The nearly dozen candidates include a former spy, an actress, an ex-prime minister, and a major city mayor, each bringing unique backgrounds and visions to the table.
We introduce them all here:
Nicușor Dan, the mayor
Nicușor Dan is running as an independent candidate and has been serving as the mayor of Bucharest, Romania’s capital, since 2020. A mathematician by training, he transitioned into activism and politics in the late 1990s after returning from Paris, where he completed his doctoral studies. His activism focused on combating the “real estate mafia” to safeguard Bucharest’s green spaces and heritage sites.
In 2015, he established the Save Bucharest Union, which later evolved into the Save Romania Union (USR), shifting its mission from local to national concerns.
Dan stepped down from the party in 2017 following a disagreement over whether the Romanian constitution should prohibit gay marriages. He opposed the party’s stance against allowing the constitution to restrict marriage to heterosexual couples.
Crin Antonescu, the establishment candidate
Crin Antonescu is the joint candidate of Romania’s mainstream parties: the Social Democrats (PSD), the National Liberals (PNL), and the Hungarian minority party (UDMR). He previously led the PNL and is notably recognized for his role as interim president over a decade ago after parliament suspended then-President Traian Băsescu.
Despite an attempt to impeach Băsescu that ultimately failed, Antonescu’s reputation suffered considerably.
Victor Ponta, the former PM
Victor Ponta served as prime minister for the Social Democrats from 2012 to 2015, resigning amid public outcry following a tragic nightclub fire that claimed 64 lives. He later founded his own party but struggled to gain traction, facing several corruption allegations, although he was cleared in 2018.
Ponta is now running as an independent candidate, aiming to capture Georgescu’s supporters.
Elena Lasconi, the former journalist
Elena Lasconi is an opposition politician and the leader of the Save Romania Union party, where she is running for president. Lasconi finished second in the annulled first round of Romania’s presidential elections and was poised to face Georgescu in a runoff before the election authorities intervened.
She entered the political arena in 2020, successfully winning the mayoral race in Câmpulung Muscel, a small town near Bucharest, as a USR candidate.
Lasconi, 52, has had a long career in journalism.
George Simion, the far-right figurehead
George Simion leads the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), Romania’s second-largest parliamentary party, and is the far-right representative in the presidential race. He secured his candidacy following the withdrawal of another hard-right candidate.
Simion has campaigned for the unification of Moldova and Romania, facing entry bans to Moldova and Ukraine due to his controversial actions.
Lavinia Șandru, the actress
Lavinia Șandru has served in Romania’s lower house of parliament and is currently a member of the Social Liberal Humanist Party. She is known for her personal connections to notable political figures and her previous career in journalism and acting.
Cristian Terheș, the former priest
Cristian Terheș is a Member of the European Parliament from the European Conservatives and Reformists Group and serves as deputy chair of the Parliament’s budgetary control committee. His controversial statements and actions have drawn both support and criticism.
Silviu Predoiu, the former spy
Silviu Predoiu is a general and long-term intelligence officer, supported by the National Action League party, as he seeks the presidency.
Predoiu’s past with Romania’s Securitate secret police has raised questions about his candidacy.
John Ion Banu, the gun enthusiast
John Ion Banu, a mechanical engineer who emigrated to the U.S. in 1985, is known for his strong beliefs in border control and the death penalty for corruption, along with advocating for the right to bear arms in Romania.
The Romanian Electoral Bureau has validated his candidacy, although concerns about the authenticity of his support signatures have been raised.
Daniel Funeriu, the chemist
Daniel Funeriu is a former education minister and member of the European Parliament, bringing his academic background in chemistry to the political landscape.
Sebastian Popescu, the veterinarian-journalist
Sebastian Popescu, a veterinarian who has established two news websites, is focused on reforming Romania’s health system and promoting sustainable development.
Once again, the Romanian Electoral Bureau has validated his candidacy amid allegations regarding the validity of his supporting signatures.
