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2025 Romanian presidential election

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Presidential elections were held in Romania on 4 May 2025, with a second round on 18 May 2025. Nicușor Dan and George Simion were the two candidates who advanced to the second round, in which the former was victorious. Dan's term as the sixth president of Romania began on 26 May.

Quick facts Turnout, Nominee ...
2025 Romanian presidential election
← 2024
4 May 2025 (first round)
18 May 2025 (second round)
2030 →
Turnout53.21% (first round) Increase 2.03pp[a]
64.72% (second round) Increase 9.86pp[b]
 
Nominee Nicușor Dan George Simion
Party Independent[c] AUR[d]
Popular vote 6,168,642 5,339,053
Percentage 53.60% 46.40%
President before election

Ilie Bolojan (acting)
PNL

 Elected President

Nicușor Dan
Independent

Close

The election was scheduled in January 2025 following the annulment of the 2024 Romanian presidential election citing alleged Russian meddling in favour of first-round winner Călin Georgescu. The campaign was characterised by political instability and a series of protests against the annulment. On 7 March, Georgescu was barred from running, pending several criminal investigations, with the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) leader Simion announcing his candidacy in Georgescu's place.

Simion, who won 40.96% of the vote in the first round, faced Dan, who garnered 20.99% of the vote, in the second round that was held on 18 May 2025.[1] Dan won with 53.6% against Simion's 46.4%. On 20 May, having previously conceded the election and congratulated Dan on his victory,[2] Simion stated that he had formally filed a contest of the results with the Romanian Constitutional Court, alleging mass voter fraud.[3][4][5] Simion's request for the annulment of the election was rejected by the Court two days later, and Dan's presidency began on 26 May.[6][7]

Background

Previous election annulled

On 6 December 2024, the 2024 Romanian presidential election, was annulled by the Constitutional Court of Romania, 48 hours before the second round was to be held, citing alleged Russian intervention on behalf of independent candidate, Călin Georgescu, who took a shock lead in the first round with 23%.[8] CSAT said the campaign was "identical" to the online campaign launched by Russia before its invasion of Ukraine. On 20 December, an investigation was published showing that PNL had seemingly paid for one of the TikTok campaigns.[9] PNL interim president Ilie Bolojan had stated that the campaign was altered illegally to favour Georgescu but did not blame the company they worked with for the alteration.[10]

Second Ciolacu cabinet

After the 2024 Romanian parliamentary election, the second Ciolacu cabinet was formed as a minority coalition between PSD, PNL, and UDMR, with confidence and supply from minority parties, on 23 December 2024. Furthermore, Ilie Bolojan became President of the Senate of Romania and Ciprian-Constantin Șerban became the President of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania. The cabinet passed with a seven-vote majority and became official. Opposition leaders (most prominently George Simion and POT Leader Anamaria Gavrilă) called the cabinet illegitimate and for the resignation of incumbent president Klaus Iohannis.[11][12][13]

President Iohannis' resignation and political crisis

Following the annulment of the 2024 presidential election in December, Iohannis was allowed to stay on as president by the Constitutional Court until his successor could be sworn in. On 10 February, following an attempt by members of parliament to impeach him, Iohannis announced that he would resign on 12 February.[14] Senate president Ilie Bolojan assumed the role of acting president until the elections.[15]

Georgescu barring and Simion candidacy

Călin Georgescu (left) arriving to the Central Electoral Bureau to file his candidacy accompanied by his wife Cristela (centre-left) and George Simion (centre-right). His candidacy was rejected two days later, on March 9, due to legal and procedural issues linked to the former presidential elections and alleged Russian intervention in his favour.

On 26 February 2025, Georgescu was stopped by police in traffic, while allegedly on his way to register for the election. He was charged with six offenses, including incitement to actions against the constitutional order, and support of fascist groups.[16] Preemptive measures have been imposed, including judiciary control, and a 60-day ban on posting xenophobic and antisemitic materials to social networks (although such actions are already illegal in Romania).[17][18] The police claimed to have found ten million U.S. dollars buried inside his bodyguard's house along with plane tickets to Moscow.[17][19]

On 7 March, Georgescu filed his candidacy to the Central Electoral Bureau, being rejected two days later which led to new protests.[20] Consequently, George Simion arrived to the Central Electoral Bureau on 14 March accompanied by former Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki to file his candidacy after collecting 604,000 signatures, above the minimum requirement of 200,000.[21] The CEB approved his candidacy on the following day,[22] which was also the deadline for candidates to register, with Simion stating "We passed the BEC, now let's see if we pass the CCR and return to democracy".[23] The CCR validated his candidacy one day later as well as the ones of Nicușor Dan and Victor Ponta.[24]

Election date

Voting locations in Belgium, announcement on Tour & Taxis

The date of the first round had initially been publicly speculated by news media as 23 March 2025, with the runoff two weeks later (6 April 2025). In early January, these dates became obsolete, as the law for electing the president of Romania requires a minimum of 75 days between the election day and the day the election is called. On 8 January, the coalition fixed the dates of the election. The first round was scheduled to be held on 4 May 2025 with the second round two weeks later (18 May 2025).[25][26][27]

More information Date, Event ...
Date Event
8 January The government fixed the date for the election (first round on 4 May 2025)
20 February The Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) is constituted (judges from the High Court of Cassation and Justice drawn, and representatives of the Permanent Electoral Authority)
21 February The BEC is finalised (representatives form the parliamentary parties)
23 February Deadline for registration of electoral alliances at BEC
15 March Deadline for candidates to register, 23:59:59 (at BEC)
17 March Deadline for BEC to validate or reject candidates registered on 15 March (48 hours after registering)[28]
19 March Deadline to file complaints at CCR against BEC decision (of validation or rejection of a candidacy) (24 hours after BEC ruling)
20 March Definitive candidacies announced
22 March BEC determines the order of the candidates on the ballot paper (lottery)
4 April The start of the electoral campaign (at 7:00)
2 May The end of the electoral campaign (at 22:00)
Voting at polling stations abroad begins at 7:00 a.m. local time
4 May Voting in Romania begins at 7:00 a.m.
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Candidates

The Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) was constituted on 21 February 2025.[29] The deadline for registering electoral alliances at the BEC was on 23 February 2025. By that deadline, only one electoral alliance was registered, between the governing PSD, PNL, and UDMR, called the Romania Forward Electoral Alliance (Alianța Electorală România Înainte; A.Ro for short).[30]

Persons who wished to run for the office could begin gathering the support signatures (a minimum of 200,000) after 23 February. The deadline for registering the candidacy at the BEC was 15 March 2025, at 23:59:59. All candidatures validated by the BEC had to pass the scrutiny of the Constitutional Court of Romania. On 19 March, Gavrilă withdrew her candidacy for president, endorsing Simion.[31] A final list of all 11 candidates was released on the following day.[32] On 22 March, a random draw took place, placing Simion on the first position on the ballot and Nicușor Dan on the last.[33][34]

Advanced to runoff

More information Name, Campaign and affiliation ...
Name Campaign and affiliation Public office experience Party and endorsements Candidacy related dates

George Simion
Electoral symbol:
 Democrație

(lit. 'Democracy')

(Website)

 Deputy for Bucharest (2020–*) Ballot affiliation: ●Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR)
Endorsed by:

●POT, ●PNȚCD, ●PSR, ●PPR

 BEC registration: 14 March 2025[35]
BEC validation: 15 March 2025[36]

Nicușor Dan
Electoral symbol:

 România Onestă

(lit. 'Honest Romania')

(Website)

 General Mayor of Bucharest (2020–*)

Deputy for Bucharest (2016–2020) Bucharest General Councilor (2016)

 Ballot affiliation: Independent
Endorsed by:

●DREPT, ●PMP, ●FD, ●REPER, ●RîA, ●PV, ●SENS, ●EMSZ, ●USR*

 Announced intention to run: 16 December 2024[37]
DREPT announces support: 18 December 2024[38]
PMP, and FD announce support: 2 February 2025[39]
REPER announces support: 1 March 2025[40]
USR announces support: 9 April 2025[41]
BEC registration: 7 March 2025[42]
BEC validation: 9 March 2025[43]
BEC validation upheld by Constitutional Court: 11 March 2025
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Other registered candidates in ballot order

More information Name, Campaign and affiliation ...
Name Campaign and affiliation Public office experience Party and endorsements Candidacy related dates

Crin Antonescu		 România, înainte!
(lit. 'Romania, Forward!')

(website)		 Acting president of Romania (2012)
President of the Senate (2012–2014)
Minister of Youth and Sport (1997–2000)
Senator (2008–2016)
Deputy (1992–2008)		 Affiliation: A.Ro[44]
Endorsed by: Ethnic minority parties		 Announced as common PSD, PNL, and UDMR candidate: 24 December 2024[45]
Announced self-suspension of campaign: 4 January 2025[46]
Validated as PNL candidate: 26 January 2025[47]
Validated as UDMR candidate: 29 January 2025[48]
Validated as PSD candidate: 2 February 2025[49]
BEC registration: 9 March 2025[50]
BEC validation: 11 March 2025[51]
BEC validation upheld by Constitutional Court: 11 March 2025

Elena Lasconi		 Am curaj să fac dreptate!
(lit. 'I have courage to do justice!')

(website)		 Mayor of Câmpulung (2024–present) Affiliation: USR[e] Announced as still being the USR candidate: 10 January 2025[52]
BEC registration: 13 March 2025[53]
BEC validation: 15 March 2025[54]
USR withdraws support: 9 April 2025[41]

Cristian Terheș		 Credincios națiunii române
(lit. 'Faithful to the Romanian nation')		 MEP (2019–present) Affiliation: PNCR BEC registration: 13 March 2025[55]
BEC validation: 15 March 2025[56]

Lavinia Șandru		 România Reală
(lit. 'Real Romania')		 Deputy (2004–2008) Affiliation: PUSL BEC registration: 14 March 2025[57]
BEC validation: 15 March 2025[58]

Victor Ponta		 România pe primul loc!
(lit. 'Romania First!')

(website)		 Prime Minister (2012–2015)
Deputy (2004–2020, 2024–present)
Minister of Parliamentary Relations (2008–2009)		 Affiliation: none
Endorsed by: PRR,[59] PER, PRO,[60] RoSAT, PRM,[61] and PPMP[62][63]		 Expressed interest: 19 January 2025[64][65]
Announced the collecting of supporting signatures: 5 February 2025[66]
Announced intention to run: 19 February 2025[67]
Launched campaign/program: 6 March 2025[68]
BEC registration: 12 March 2025[69]
BEC validation: 14 March 2025

Sebastian Popescu [ro]		 No campaign information No previous public office Affiliation: PNR BEC registration: 15 March 2025[70]
BEC validation: 17 March 2025[71]

Silviu Predoiu [ro]		 Competență. Character. Curaj.
(lit. 'Competence. Character. Courage.')
(website)		 Acting chief of Foreign Intelligence Service (2006–2007)
First deputy chief of Foreign Intelligence Service (2005–2018)		 Affiliation: PLAN BEC registration: 15 March 2025[72]
BEC validation: 17 March 2025[73]

John Ion Banu [ro]		 Democrația și Civilizația trebuiesc apărate de către cetățeni
(lit. 'Democracy and Civilization must be defended by citizens')

(website)		 No previous public office Affiliation: none BEC registration: 14 March 2025[74]
BEC validation: 15 March 2025[75]
Daniel Funeriu		 Asta-i direcția!
(lit. 'This is the direction!')
 Minister of Education (2009–2012), MEP (2008–2009) Affiliation: none BEC registration: 15 March 2025[76]
BEC validation: 17 March 2025[77]
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Registered, but later withdrawn candidates

More information Name, Campaign slogan ...
Name Campaign slogan Public Office Experience Party and endorsements Candidacy and withdrawal related dates

Anamaria Gavrilă		 No campaign information Deputy (2020–present)[78] Affiliation: POT BEC registration: 14 March 2025[35]
BEC validation: 15 March 2025[36]
Withdrawn: 19 March 2025[79]
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Rejected candidates

The following is a list of people that have filed a candidacy at the Central Electoral Bureau and were rejected for not complying the legal requirements to be allowed to run.

More information Name, Campaign slogan ...
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Expressed interest publicly but failed to register in time

More information Name, Campaign slogan ...
Close

Declined to run

More information Name, Public office experience ...
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Debates

The debates[f] started on 8 April 2025, four days after the start of the campaign.

More information Debate, Date ...
Debate schedule
Debate Date Sponsor(s) Moderator(s) Ref.
1 8 April 2025 TVR 1 Ramona Avramescu [113]
2 9 April 2025 TVR Info Roxana Zamfirescu
Claudiu Lucaci		 [114]
3 9 April 2025 A7 TV Flori Stoian [115]
4 10 April 2025 TVR Info Roxana Zamfirescu
Claudiu Lucaci		 [116]
5 10 April 2025 Radio România Actualități Alexandra Andon [117]
6 14 April 2025 TVR Info Roxana Zamfirescu
Claudiu Lucaci		 [118]
7 15 April 2025 TVR 1 Ramona Avramescu
Marian Voicu		 [119]
8 15 April 2025 TVR Info Roxana Zamfirescu
Claudiu Lucaci		 [120]
9 16 April 2025 TVR 1 Ramona Avramescu
Marian Voicu		 [121]
10 23 April 2025 TVR 1 Ramona Avramescu
Marian Voicu		 [122]
11 28 April 2025 Digi24 Cosmin Prelipceanu
Liliana Ruse		 [123]
12 29 April 2025 TVR 1 Ramona Avramescu
Marian Voicu		 [124]
13 30 April 2025 Antena 3 CNN Mihai Gâdea [125]
14 8 May 2025 Euronews Andra Miron
Monica Mihai		 [126]
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Participation

The following is a table of participating candidates in each debate:

More information Candidate, P Present (on spot or through a video/audio live call) N Not invited/Invitation declined A Absent (Invitation accepted, but failed to show up or downgraded their presence to a representative) ...
Participating candidates
Candidate
 P  Present (on spot or through a video/audio live call)  N  Not invited/Invitation declined
 A  Absent (Invitation accepted, but failed to show up or downgraded their presence to a representative)		 Total
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Simion A N N N N N A N N N A[g] A N P 1
Antonescu N N A N N N N N A N P P P N 3
Lasconi N N A N N N N N N N P P P N 3
Terheș N N P N N N N P P P N P P N 6
Șandru N N N N N N N P N N N P P N 3
Ponta N A N N N A N N N N A P N N 1
Popescu N P P P P N P N N P N P N N 7
Predoiu N N N P P N N N N N N P N N 3
Banu P P N N P P N N P N N P P N 7
Funeriu P N N N N P P N N P N P P N 6
Dan N N N N N N N N N N P P P P 4
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Opinion polls

Graphical summary

Graphical summary of the first-round opinion polls:
  Simion
  Dan
  Antonescu
  Ponta
  Lasconi
  Sandru
  Funeriu
  Terhes
  Georgescu
  Șoșoacă

Second round

Nicușor Dan vs George Simion

More information Poll, Date ...
Poll Date Sample Dan
Ind.		 Simion
AUR		 Others Lead
Election result 18 May 2025 11.507.695 53.60 46.40 N/a 7.2
Avangarde (second exit poll) N/a 54.2 45.8 N/a 8.4
Avangarde (first exit poll) N/a 54.9 45.1 N/a 9.8
ARA (exit poll) N/a 51.5 48.5 N/a 3
CURS (exit poll) N/a 54 46 N/a 8
Sociopol (exit poll) N/a 50 50 N/a 0
AtlasIntel 13–15 May 2025 5,628 48.7 47.8 3.5 0.9
IRSOP 10–13 May 2025 951 52 48 N/a 4
Sociopol 10–12 May 2025 1,024 47 53 N/a 6
AtlasIntel 9–12 May 2025 3,995 48.2 48.2 3.6 0
MKOR 8–14 May 2025 3,357 34.2 32 33.8 2.2
CURS 8–11 May 2025 3,042 48 52 N/a 4
Verifield 6 May 2025 944 45.2 54.8 N/a 9.6
First round on 4 May
AtlasIntel 28 Apr–1 May 2025 3,247 40 37 23 3
Noi, Cetățenii 24–30 Apr 2025 1,378 55 45 N/a 10
MKOR 24–27 Apr 2025 1,750 29 28 43 1
FlashData 24–26 Apr 2025 7,500 40.0 45.5 14.5 5.5
AtlasIntel 17–22 Apr 2025 3,701 42 39 19 3
AtlasIntel 10–13 Apr 2025 2,994 40.7 37.5 21.8 3.2
ARA 9–13 Apr 2025 1,115 48 52 N/a 4
CURS 3–10 Apr 2025 1,214 46 54 N/a 6
FlashData 3–5 Apr 2025 7,500 58 42 N/a 14
Sociopol 31 Mar–4 Apr 2025 1.007 47 53 N/a 6
Noi, Cetățenii 28 Mar–8 Apr 2025 1,488 60 40 N/a 20
MKOR 26–28 Mar 2025 1,500 35 31 35 4
Sociopol 17–18 Mar 2025 1,005 48 52 N/a 4
AtlasIntel 13–15 Mar 2025 2,381 42.1 35.3 22.6 6.8
Noi, Cetățenii 23 Dec 2024–13 Jan 2025 1,067 54 46 N/a 8
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First round (after BEC deadline)

More information Poll, Date ...
Poll Date Sample Margin of error Simion
AUR		 Dan
Ind.		 Antonescu
A.Ro		 Ponta
Ind.		 Lasconi
USR		 Sandru
PUSL		 Funeriu
Ind.		 Terhes
PNCR		 Banu
Ind.		 Popescu
PNR		 Predoiu
PLAN		 Others Lead
Election result 4 May 2025 9.430.274 N/a 40.96 20.99 20.07 13.04 2.68 0.64 0.53 0.39 0.23 0.28 0.18 N/a 19.97
CURS (exit poll) N/a N/a 33.3 21 22.8 14.5 4.4 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 4 10.5
Avangarde (exit poll) N/a N/a 31.1 24.5 24.5 14.5 3.8 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 2.1 6.6
Sociopol (exit poll) N/a N/a 35 20 20 19 3 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 3 15
INSCOP (exit poll) N/a N/a 36.2 20.6 21.5 17.1 2.5 1 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 N/a 14.7
AtlasIntel 28 Apr–1 May 2025 3,247 ± 2 31 23 25 11.7 6.5 1.1 0.4 0.8 N/a N/a N/a 0.6 6
Sociopol 28–30 Apr 2025 1,003 ± 3.2 34 19 19 22 5 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 1 12
Noi, Cetățenii 24–30 Apr 2025 1,378 ± 2.6 30.5 26.5 20.5 10.4 8.6 N/a 2.6 N/a N/a N/a N/a 0.9 4
MKOR 24–27 Apr 2025 1,750 ± 2.5 33.1 19.4 21 14.8 7.3 2.2 0.6 0.6 0.9 N/a 0.2 N/a 12.1
FlashData 24–26 Apr 2025 7,500 ± 3.5 29 23 26 8 7.5 2.1 1.2 0.2 N/a N/a N/a 3 3
Sociopol 24–26 Apr 2025 1,001 ± 3.2 35 16 17 23 8 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 1 12
ARA 21–25 Apr 2025 1,115 ± 3 26.8 20 26.2 10.5 10 3.5 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 3 0.6
DataEcho 22–24 Apr 2025 2,607 ± 2.5 26.7 26.5 20.3 14.4 6.6 1.1 0.4 0.2 0.9 N/a 0.3 1.5 0.2
Sociopol 21–23 Apr 2025 1,002 ± 3.2 34 16 16 23 10 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 1 11
AtlasIntel 17–22 Apr 2025 3,701 ± 2 33.3 23 23.6 10.7 5.7 1.1 0.9 0.3 N/a N/a N/a 1.3 9.7
ARA 15–19 Apr 2025 1,107 ± 3 26.5 19.5 26 11 10 3.5 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 3.5 0.5
Sociopol 14–17 Apr 2025 1,005 ± 3.2 35 14 17 22 11 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 1 13
IRSOP 4–14 Apr 2025 1,030 ± 3 31 28 17 18 4 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 2 3
AtlasIntel 10–13 Apr 2025 2,994 ± 2 34.4 21.8 25.5 10 5.2 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 3.1 8.9
ARA 9–13 Apr 2025 1,115 ± 3 25.8 20.3 25.3 10.6 9 3.5 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 5.5 0.5
FlashData 10–12 Apr 2025 7,500 ± 3.5 27 20 26 8 9 4.8 1.3 0.3 N/a N/a 0.5 3.1 1
DataEcho 10–11 Apr 2025 3,562 ± 2.6 24.9 29.5 22.8 10.9 9.1 0.3 0.8 0.2 0.4 N/a 0.2 1 4.6
Sociopol 7–11 Apr 2025 1,002 ± 3.2 34 16 15 23 10 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 2 11
CURS 3–10 Apr 2025 1,214 ± 2.8 26 19 23 16 8 N/a N/a 3 N/a N/a N/a 5 3
Noi, Cetățenii 28 Mar–8 Apr 2025 1,488 ± 2.5 30 29.6 19.6 8.3 7.8 N/a 2.1 N/a N/a N/a N/a 2.7 3.4
USR 2–7 Apr 2025 1,149 ± 2.9 40.8 16.9 14.5 20.4 4.1 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 3.3 20.4
FlashData 3–5 Apr 2025 7,500 ± 3.5 28 23 26 9 6 4.6 1.5 0.5 N/a 0.1 0.2 1.1 2
Sociopol 31 Mar–4 Apr 2025 1,007 ± 3.2 35 16 15 23 10 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 1 12
USR 24–29 Mar 2025 1,112 ± 2.94 37.2 19.2 13.8 21.6 6.5 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 1.7 15.6
MKOR 26–28 Mar 2025 1,500 ± 2.5 31.2 22.7 18.8 17.1 5.3 1.1 0.6 2.2 0.4 0.4 0.3 N/a 8.5
Verifield 24–28 Mar 2025 1,100 ± 2.95 35 20.8 16.4 21.1 4.3 0.7 1.1 0.3 N/a N/a N/a 0.3 13.9
ARA 18–25 Mar 2025 1,015 ± 3 27 18 24 11 12 3 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 5 3
Avangarde 19–23 Mar 2025 1,300 ± 2.3 30 21 23 14 8 N/a 1 N/a N/a N/a N/a 3 7
CURS 19–22 Mar 2025 1,203 ± 2.8 29 18 22 13 12 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 6 7
Sociopol 17–18 Mar 2025 1,005 N/a 37 16 14 22 10 N/a 1 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 15
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Furthermore, in a poll among Moldovans with Romanian citizenship, 15.4% stated they would vote for Dan, 11.5% for Lasconi, 7.2% for Antonescu, 3.8% for Simion, 1.8% for Ponta and 0.8% for other candidates. 37.6% stated they were undecided, 18% that they would not vote and 3.9% did not answer. The poll was conducted by iData in April, with a sample of 1,027. According to iData, 500,000–550,000 Romanian citizens with the right to vote in the election lived in Moldova at the time.[128]

First round (before BEC deadline)

More information Poll, Date ...
Poll Date Sample Georgescu
Ind.		 Lasconi
USR		 Simion
AUR		 Becali
AUR		 Bolojan
PNL		 Terhes
PNCR		 Birchall
Ind.		 Dan
Ind.		 Antonescu
A.Ro		 Ponta
Ind.		 Șoșoacă
S.O.S.		 Funeriu
Ind.		 Gavrilă
POT		 Sandru
PUSL		 Others Lead
AtlasIntel 13–15 Mar 2025 2,381 N/a 3.9 30.4 N/a N/a N/a N/a 26.0 17.9 9.0 N/a 1.8 N/a 0.6 10.5 4.4
N/a 3.9 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 25.3 17.7 9.2 N/a 2.5 30.2 0.5 10.6 4.9
Sociopol 3–7 Mar 2025 1,000 38 8 10 N/a N/a N/a N/a 14 14 16 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 22
N/a 12 28 N/a N/a N/a N/a 19 18 22 N/a N/a N/a N/a 1 6
MKOR 25–28 Feb 2025 1,100 44.1 9.4 0.6 1.8 14.7 N/a N/a 14.2 8.9 4.2 N/a N/a N/a N/a 2.1 29.4
Verifield 14–28 Feb 2025 1,000 41.1 7.0 N/a N/a N/a 1.0 N/a 12.4 18.5 N/a 3.0 1.0 N/a N/a 16 22.6
AtlasIntel 21–24 Feb 2025 2,947 38.4 5.8 0.9 N/a N/a N/a N/a 25.4 15.8 7.5 N/a N/a N/a N/a 6.2 13
FlashData 14–16 Feb 2025 7,500 37 9 N/a N/a N/a N/a 0.5 21 17 5 3 1 N/a N/a 6.5 16
Sociopol 10–14 Feb 2025 1,001 45 10 6 N/a N/a N/a N/a 10 10 16 2 N/a N/a N/a 1 29
N/a 9 24 N/a N/a N/a N/a 16 14 22 9 N/a N/a N/a 1 2
Sociopol 27–30 Jan 2025 1,003 47 8 4 N/a N/a N/a N/a 10 10 16 4 N/a N/a N/a 1 31
N/a 9 24 N/a N/a N/a N/a 16 14 22 14 N/a N/a N/a 1 2
CURS 21–25 Jan 2025 1,100 37 7 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 21 18 N/a 4 N/a N/a N/a 13 16
N/a 13 25 N/a N/a N/a N/a 24 23 N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a 15 1
Avangarde 10–16 Jan 2025 1,354 38 6 6 N/a N/a N/a N/a 17 25 N/a 5 N/a N/a N/a 3 13
Sociopol 10–15 Jan 2025 1,001 50 10 6 N/a N/a N/a N/a 10 8 15 5 N/a N/a N/a 1 35
N/a 13 35 N/a N/a N/a N/a 13 10 26 N/a N/a N/a N/a 3 9
Noi, Cetățenii 23 Dec 2024–13 Jan 2025 1,067 35 8 2 N/a N/a N/a N/a 25 16 8 8 N/a N/a N/a 6 10
N/a 9 30 N/a N/a N/a N/a 26 16 12 N/a N/a N/a N/a 7 4
Election 24 November 2024 9,242,186 22.94 19.18 13.86[h] 8.79[i] 1.04 0.46 — — — — — — — 33.73 3.76
Close

Hypothetical second-round scenarios

Antonescu vs Simion

Hypothetical polling
More information Poll, Date ...
Poll Date Sample Antonescu
A.Ro		 Simion
AUR		 Others Lead
AtlasIntel 28 Apr-1 May 2025 3,247 47 37 16 10
Noi, Cetățenii 24–30 Apr 2025 1,378 57 43 N/a 14
MKOR 24–27 Apr 2025 1,750 31 28 41 3
FlashData 24–26 Apr 2025 7,500 46 42 12 4
AtlasIntel 17–22 Apr 2025 3,701 44 39 17 5
AtlasIntel 10–13 Apr 2025 2,994 49.2 36.3 14.4 12.9
ARA 9–13 Apr 2025 1,115 56 44 N/a 12
CURS 3–10 Apr 2025 1,214 52 48 N/a 4
FlashData 3–5 Apr 2025 7,500 61 39 N/a 22
Sociopol 31 Mar–4 Apr 2025 1.007 45 55 N/a 10
Noi, Cetățenii 28 Mar–8 Apr 2025 1,488 61 39 N/a 22
MKOR 26–28 Mar 2025 1,500 33 31 36 2
Sociopol 17–18 Mar 2025 1,005 46 54 N/a 8
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Ponta vs Simion

Hypothetical polling
More information Poll, Date ...
Poll Date Sample Ponta
Ind.		 Simion
AUR		 Others Lead
AtlasIntel 28 Apr-1 May 2025 3,247 28 34 38 6
Noi, Cetățenii 24–30 Apr 2025 1,378 53 47 N/a 8
MKOR 24–27 Apr 2025 1,750 25 28 47 3
AtlasIntel 17–22 Apr 2025 3,701 26 36 39 10
AtlasIntel 10–13 Apr 2025 2,994 23.4 36.3 40.4 12.9
ARA 9–13 Apr 2025 1,115 44 56 N/a 12
Sociopol 31 Mar–4 Apr 2025 1.007 54 46 N/a 8
MKOR 26–28 Mar 2025 1,500 30 30 40 0
Sociopol 17–18 Mar 2025 1,005 46 54 N/a 8
Close

Antonescu vs Dan

Hypothetical polling
More information Poll, Date ...
Poll Date Sample Antonescu
A.Ro		 Dan
Ind.		 Others Lead
AtlasIntel 28 Apr-1 May 2025 3,247 33 29 38 4
Noi, Cetățenii 24–30 Apr 2025 1,378 54 46 N/a 8
MKOR 24–27 Apr 2025 1,750 21 24 55 3
FlashData 24–26 Apr 2025 7,500 48 40 12 8
AtlasIntel 17–22 Apr 2025 3,701 31 28 41 3
AtlasIntel 10–13 Apr 2025 2,994 34.4 26.4 39.2 8
ARA 9–13 Apr 2025 1,115 56 44 N/a 12
CURS 3–10 Apr 2025 1,214 52 48 N/a 4
FlashData 3–5 Apr 2025 7,500 55 45 N/a 10
Noi, Cetățenii 28 Mar–8 Apr 2025 1,488 44 56 N/a 12
MKOR 26–28 Mar 2025 1,500 22 30 48 8
AtlasIntel 13–15 Mar 2025 2,381 25.1 35.2 39.6 10.1
Close

Antonescu vs Ponta

Hypothetical polling
More information Poll, Date ...
Poll Date Sample Antonescu
A.Ro		 Ponta
Ind.		 Others Lead
Noi, Cetățenii 24–30 Apr 2025 1,378 69 31 N/a 38
MKOR 24–27 Apr 2025 1,750 28 19 53 11
FlashData 24–26 Apr 2025 7,500 52 36 12 16
FlashData 3–5 Apr 2025 7,500 67 33 N/a 34
MKOR 26–28 Mar 2025 1,500 29 25 45 4
Close

Dan vs Lasconi

Hypothetical polling
More information Poll, Date ...
Poll Date Sample Dan
Ind.		 Lasconi
USR		 Others Lead
AtlasIntel 13–15 Mar 2025 2,381 41.4 5.2 53.4 35.9
Close

Dan vs Ponta

Hypothetical polling
More information Poll, Date ...
Poll Date Sample Dan
Ind.		 Ponta
Ind.		 Others Lead
AtlasIntel 28 Apr-1 May 2025 3,247 40 37 23 3
Noi, Cetățenii 24–30 Apr 2025 1,378 59 41 N/a 18
MKOR 24–27 Apr 2025 1,750 30 20 50 10
FlashData 24–26 Apr 2025 7,500 48 42 10 6
CURS 3–10 Apr 2025 1,214 50 50 N/a 0
FlashData 3–5 Apr 2025 7,500 61 39 N/a 22
MKOR 26–28 Mar 2025 1,500 33 24 42 9
AtlasIntel 13–15 Mar 2025 2,381 43.2 17.5 39.3 25.7
Noi, Cetățenii 23 Dec 2024–13 Jan 2025 1,067 55 45 N/a 10
Close

Lasconi vs Simion

Hypothetical polling
More information Poll, Date ...
Poll Date Sample Lasconi
USR		 Simion
AUR		 Others Lead
AtlasIntel 28 Apr-1 May 2025 3,247 43 35 22 8
MKOR 24–27 Apr 2025 1,750 30 30 40 0
AtlasIntel 17–22 Apr 2025 3,701 41 39 20 2
AtlasIntel 10–13 Apr 2025 2,994 40.3 36.8 22.9 3.5
MKOR 26–28 Mar 2025 1,500 30 31 39 1
Close

Antonescu vs Georgescu

Hypothetical polling
More information Poll, Date ...
Poll Date Sample Antonescu
A.Ro		 Georgescu
Ind.		 Others Lead
Avangarde 10–16 Jan 2025 1,354 38 39 23 1
Close

Bolojan vs Georgescu

Hypothetical polling
More information Poll, Date ...
Poll Date Sample Bolojan
PNL		 Georgescu
Ind.		 Others Lead
MKOR 25–28 Feb 2025 1,100 42 40 18 2
Close

Dan vs Gavrila

Hypothetical polling
More information Poll, Date ...
Poll Date Sample Dan
Ind.		 Gavrilă
POT		 Others Lead
AtlasIntel 13–15 Mar 2025 2,381 40.1 31.7 28.3 8.4
Close

Dan vs Georgescu

Hypothetical polling
More information Poll, Date ...
Poll Date Sample Dan
Ind.		 Georgescu
Ind.		 Others Lead
MKOR 25–28 Feb 2025 1,100 36 42 22 6
AtlasIntel 21–24 Feb 2025 2,947 45.0 40.9 14.1 4.1
Noi, Cetățenii 23 Dec 2024–16 Feb 2025 1,067 50 50 N/a 0
Avangarde 10–16 Jan 2025 1,354 32 43 25 9
Close

Georgescu vs Lasconi

Hypothetical polling
More information Poll, Date ...
Poll Date Sample Georgescu
Ind.		 Lasconi
USR		 Others Lead
Avangarde 10–16 Jan 2025 1,354 44 31 25 13
Close

Endorsements

Political parties

More information Parliamentary parties, Ideology ...
Endorsements from parliamentary parties
Parliamentary parties Ideology First round Second round
Social Democratic Party Social democracy Crin Antonescu[129] No endorsement[130]
Alliance for the Union of Romanians Right-wing populism George Simion[131] George Simion[131]
National Liberal Party Liberal conservatism Crin Antonescu[129] Nicușor Dan[132]
Save Romania Union Liberalism Elena Lasconi[e][52] Nicușor Dan[133]
Nicușor Dan[41]
S.O.S. Romania Ultranationalism Invalid[134] Invalid[135]
Party of Young People Right-wing populism George Simion[131] George Simion[131]
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians Hungarian minority interests Crin Antonescu[129] Nicușor Dan[136]
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More information Ethnic minority parties, Ideology ...
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More information Extraparliamentary parties, Ideology ...
Close
More information Organization, Political groups of the European Parliament ...
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More information Country, Party ...
Close

Other endorsements

More information First-round candidate, First round ...
Endorsements from first-round candidates
First-round candidate First round Endorsement
Crin Antonescu 20.07% No endorsement[244]
Victor Ponta 13.04% No endorsement[245]
Elena Lasconi 2.68% Nicușor Dan[246]
Lavinia Șandru 0.64% No endorsement
Daniel Funeriu 0.53% Nicușor Dan[247]
Cristian Terheș 0.39% No endorsement
Sebastian Popescu [ro] 0.28% No endorsement
John Ion Banu [ro] 0.23% Boycott[248]
Silviu Predoiu [ro] 0.18% No endorsement
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More information Candidate, First round ...
Endorsements from withdrawn candidates
Candidate First round Second round
Anamaria Gavrilă George Simion George Simion
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More information Candidate, First round ...
Endorsements from candidates in the 2024 annulled election
Candidate First round Second round
Călin Georgescu George Simion[249] George Simion
Marcel Ciolacu Crin Antonescu No endorsement[250]
Nicolae Ciucă Crin Antonescu Nicușor Dan
Hunor Kelemen Crin Antonescu[251] Nicușor Dan[252]
Ludovic Orban Nicușor Dan[253] Nicușor Dan[254]
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More information Politician, Public office ...
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More information Politician, Public office ...
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More information Denomination, Orientation ...
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Celebrity endorsements
Nicușor Dan
George Simion

Conduct

OSCE observers verifying ballot box seal at a Bucharest polling station

As per Romanian law, citizens could vote at the designated polling station inside the municipality, town or commune where they reside or at any other station outside of said jurisdiction, on a supplementary list.[297] The counting process was recorded.[298] Fifty-three Romanian politically non-affiliated organisations were accredited by the Permanent Electoral Authority to observe the election process.[299] The AEP additionally approved access for 87 foreign journalists from outlets such as Sky News, Associated Press, Reuters, France 24 and the BBC as well as 159 representatives of the following organisations:[300]

More information Organisation, Type ...
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Results were updated in real time on the Permanent Electoral Authority website with information from the 19,943 polling stations.[302] There were no major incidents reported by observers during voting hours or the counting process.[303][304] Statements of preliminary conclusions from the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE mention that "[t]he voting process was evaluated positively, with observers finding the process to be conducted in an efficient, transparent, and professional manner", while also noting the presence of online disinformation and media bias during the campaign.[305] FEC member Trey Trainor praised the election process he observed, stating that: "Every vote was cast using a paper ballot, and the entire ballot-counting process was not only done in the presence of poll watchers from every political party but also recorded on video to guarantee transparency. There were no delays in reporting results. In fact, the entire country completed its electoral count within hours of polls closing — a testament to both the simplicity and the integrity of the process."[306]

Results

More information Candidate, Party ...
CandidatePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
Nicușor DanIndependent[c]1,979,76720.996,168,64253.60
George SimionAlliance for the Union of Romanians[d]3,862,76140.965,339,05346.40
Crin AntonescuRomania Forward Electoral Alliance[m]1,892,93020.07
Victor PontaIndependent[d]1,230,16413.04
Elena LasconiSave Romania Union[e]252,7212.68
Lavinia ȘandruSocial Liberal Humanist Party60,6820.64
Daniel FuneriuIndependent49,6040.53
Cristian TerheșRomanian National Conservative Party36,4450.39
Sebastian Popescu [ro]New Romania Party25,9940.28
John Ion Banu [ro]Independent22,0200.23
Silviu Predoiu [ro]National Action League Party17,1860.18
Total9,430,274100.0011,507,695100.00
Valid votes9,430,27498.5211,507,69598.85
Invalid/blank votes141,4661.48134,1711.15
Total votes9,571,740100.0011,641,866100.00
Registered voters/turnout17,988,03153.2117,988,21864.72
Source: Permanent Electoral Authority[307][308]
Close
Vote share
Second round
Dan
 
 53.60%
Simion
 
 46.40%
First round
Simion
 
 40.96%
Dan
 
 20.99%
Antonescu
 
 20.07%
Ponta
 
 13.04%
Lasconi
 
 2.68%
Others
 
 2.26%

First round

By county

More information County, George Simion ...
Results by county[309]
County George Simion Nicușor Dan Crin Antonescu Victor Ponta Elena Lasconi Lavinia Șandru Daniel Funeriu Cristian Terheș Sebastian Popescu [ro] John Ion Banu [ro] Silviu Predoiu [ro]
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
Alba 65,369 43.45% 26,138 17.38% 32,276 21.46% 19,137 12.72% 3,613 2.40% 1,118 0.74% 889 0.59% 755 0.50% 485 0.32% 389 0.26% 265 0.18%
Arad 79,460 46.66% 27,131 15.93% 33,219 19.51% 21,272 12.49% 4,333 2.54% 1,057 0.62% 1,495 0.88% 1,146 0.67% 479 0.28% 394 0.28% 309 0.23%
Argeș 118,704 43.32% 39,025 14.24% 48,449 17.68% 51,774 18.89% 10,587 3.86% 1,657 0.60% 1,192 0.43% 766 0.28% 619 0.23% 853 0.31% 406 0.15%
Bacău 106,495 44.52% 38,131 15.94% 45,019 18.82% 34,559 14.45% 8,096 3.38% 2,322 0.97% 1,537 0.64% 912 0.38% 879 0.37% 680 0.28% 554 0.23%
Bihor 74,768 31.62% 33,191 14.04% 89,273 37.76% 28,311 11.97% 4,908 2.08% 1,246 0.53% 1,190 0.50% 1,648 0.70% 949 0.40% 498 0.21% 453 0.19%
Bistrița-Năsăud 49,225 44.39% 17,336 15.63% 23,152 20.88% 16,215 14.62% 2,338 2.11% 791 0.71% 553 0.50% 566 0.51% 327 0.29% 241 0.22% 146 0.13%
Botoșani 63,780 45.68% 16,203 11.61% 25,441 18.22% 27,428 19.65% 3,202 2.29% 1,131 0.81% 722 0.52% 570 0.41% 537 0.38% 314 0.22% 281 0.20%
Brașov 89,147 33.39% 83,162 31.15% 45,264 16.95% 33,431 12.52% 8,693 3.26% 2,068 0.77% 1,780 0.67% 1,387 0.52% 746 0.28% 785 0.29% 550 0.21%
Brăila 55,204 45.26% 16,412 13.46% 22,007 18.04% 22,476 18.43% 2,638 2.16% 1,059 0.87% 708 0.58% 438 0.36% 431 0.35% 316 0.26% 277 0.23%
Buzău 73,502 41.18% 23,797 13.33% 40,088 22.46% 33,149 18.57% 3,783 2.12% 1,372 0.77% 873 0.49% 522 0.29% 572 0.32% 425 0.24% 392 0.22%
Caraș-Severin 49,643 46.35% 12,172 11.36% 22,575 21.08% 17,824 16.64% 2,444 2.28% 647 0.60% 575 0.54% 486 0.45% 298 0.28% 263 0.25% 177 0.17%
Călărași 56,015 47.90% 12,790 10.94% 26,979 23.07% 16,347 13.98% 2,303 1.97% 761 0.65% 503 0.43% 294 0.25% 445 0.38% 259 0.22% 246 0.21%
Cluj 95,088 27.88% 121,072 35.49% 72,039 21.12% 34,406 10.09% 9,926 2.91% 2,092 0.61% 2,162 0.63% 2,178 0.64% 842 0.25% 820 0.24% 495 0.15%
Constanța 138,867 44.29% 69,892 22.29% 47,692 15.21% 39,589 12.63% 9,333 2.98% 2,547 0.81% 2,008 0.64% 1,055 0.34% 973 0.31% 902 0.29% 666 0.21%
Covasna 10,885 16.16% 7,238 10.74% 41,683 61.87% 4,747 7.05% 1,270 1.88% 294 0.44% 254 0.38% 363 0.54% 309 0.46% 184 0.27% 149 0.22%
Dâmbovița 94,562 46.03% 30,065 14.63% 33,617 16.36% 37,623 18.31% 5,072 2.47% 1,386 0.67% 1,008 0.49% 604 0.29% 644 0.31% 428 0.21% 427 0.21%
Dolj 106,379 39.36% 38,908 14.40% 72,468 26.81% 42,217 15.62% 5,366 1.99% 1,480 0.55% 1,109 0.41% 646 0.24% 728 0.27% 477 0.18% 494 0.18%
Galați 88,679 41.55% 37,976 17.80% 40,736 19.09% 34,383 16.11% 5,723 2.68% 1,904 0.89% 1,391 0.65% 802 0.38% 682 0.32% 659 0.31% 469 0.22%
Giurgiu 51,953 41.75% 11,561 9.29% 39,262 31.55% 17,031 13.69% 2,190 1.76% 763 0.61% 414 0.33% 278 0.22% 474 0.38% 226 0.18% 295 0.24%
Gorj 71,744 49.54% 14,338 9.90% 22,930 15.83% 30,925 21.35% 2,507 1.73% 840 0.58% 487 0.34% 290 0.20% 315 0.22% 238 0.16% 215 0.15%
Harghita 9,693 8.96% 8,573 7.92% 80,764 74.62% 5,224 4.83% 1,733 1.60% 362 0.33% 355 0.33% 468 0.43% 530 0.49% 279 0.26% 256 0.24%
Hunedoara 75,213 44.15% 23,460 13.77% 31,093 18.25% 30,804 18.08% 5,397 3.17% 1,312 0.77% 1,080 0.63% 839 0.49% 443 0.26% 434 0.25% 279 0.16%
Ialomița 45,928 47.23% 12,558 12.91% 18,271 18.79% 16,268 16.73% 2,152 2.21% 702 0.72% 473 0.49% 242 0.25% 272 0.28% 204 0.21% 175 0.18%
Iași 122,412 36.18% 96,467 28.51% 54,692 16.16% 46,474 13.73% 9,696 2.87% 2,497 0.74% 2,087 0.62% 1,276 0.38% 1,114 0.33% 814 0.24% 853 0.25%
Ilfov 104,985 36.12% 80,871 27.82% 59,981 20.64% 30,703 10.56% 8,016 2.76% 1,741 0.60% 1,464 0.50% 781 0.27% 741 0.25% 704 0.24% 658 0.23%
Maramureș 73,152 43.40% 30,923 18.35% 31,935 18.95% 23,827 14.14% 4,610 2.74% 1,209 0.72% 872 0.52% 956 0.57% 459 0.27% 343 0.20% 262 0.16%
Mehedinți 46,099 41.38% 7,878 7.07% 34,312 30.80% 19,220 17.25% 2,031 1.82% 575 0.52% 400 0.36% 233 0.21% 310 0.28% 178 0.16% 167 0.15%
Mureș 64,861 31.93% 35,853 17.65% 71,383 35.14% 21,803 10.73% 4,699 2.31% 1,265 0.62% 930 0.46% 852 0.42% 634 0.31% 485 0.24% 351 0.17%
Neamț 86,293 45.41% 30,479 16.04% 31,800 16.73% 30,502 16.05% 5,539 2.91% 1,801 0.95% 1,147 0.60% 668 0.35% 747 0.39% 635 0.33% 425 0.22%
Olt 80,024 44.30% 15,790 8.74% 46,844 25.93% 31,080 17.20% 3,600 1.99% 1,259 0.70% 631 0.35% 368 0.20% 477 0.26% 281 0.16% 295 0.16%
Prahova 134,799 41.68% 65,224 20.17% 53,232 16.46% 52,266 16.16% 9,510 2.94% 2,780 0.86% 1,850 0.57% 1,120 0.35% 1,000 0.31% 958 0.30% 688 0.21%
Satu Mare 37,568 33.89% 13,724 12.38% 42,231 38.09% 12,255 11.05% 2,804 2.53% 496 0.45% 435 0.39% 524 0.47% 399 0.36% 224 0.20% 208 0.19%
Sălaj 31,422 34.21% 13,028 14.18% 30,703 33.43% 11,933 12.99% 2,298 2.50% 480 0.52% 409 0.45% 956 1.04% 308 0.34% 152 0.17% 155 0.17%
Sibiu 70,877 39.34% 51,737 28.72% 30,856 17.13% 16,684 9.26% 5,387 2.99% 1,272 0.71% 1,108 0.61% 916 0.51% 467 0.26% 564 0.31% 298 0.17%
Suceava 124,671 48.55% 36,556 14.24% 43,741 17.03% 40,464 15.76% 5,040 1.96% 1,944 0.76% 1,397 0.54% 1,217 0.47% 744 0.29% 610 0.24% 399 0.16%
Teleorman 57,099 40.71% 12,062 8.60% 41,408 29.52% 24,439 17.42% 2,547 1.82% 856 0.61% 528 0.38% 366 0.26% 475 0.34% 245 0.17% 237 0.17%
Timiș 116,399 37.99% 87,880 28.68% 49,726 16.23% 33,168 10.83% 11,030 3.60% 2,035 0.66% 2,466 0.80% 1,757 0.57% 684 0.22% 776 0.25% 458 0.15%
Tulcea 42,864 51.19% 12,349 14.75% 13,562 16.20% 10,985 13.12% 1,977 2.36% 648 0.77% 476 0.57% 235 0.28% 250 0.30% 205 0.24% 176 0.21%
Vaslui 60,879 44.45% 18,311 13.37% 26,087 19.05% 23,927 17.47% 4,064 2.97% 1,263 0.92% 733 0.54% 485 0.35% 542 0.40% 322 0.24% 358 0.26%
Vâlcea 68,906 44.39% 21,173 13.64% 29,430 18.96% 29,338 18.90% 3,125 2.01% 1,164 0.75% 744 0.48% 388 0.25% 416 0.27% 338 0.22% 224 0.14%
Vrancea 61,135 44.76% 19,448 14.24% 27,531 20.15% 22,045 16.14% 3,222 2.36% 963 0.70% 772 0.57% 427 0.31% 462 0.34% 288 0.21% 306 0.22%
Bucharest 220,823 24.80% 361,497 40.59% 153,909 17.28% 110,723 12.43% 24,411 2.74% 5,176 0.58% 5,156 0.58% 2,709 0.30% 1,627 0.18% 2,621 0.29% 1,942 0.22%
Diaspora 587,190 60.79% 247,388 25.61% 65,270 6.76% 23,188 2.40% 31,508 3.26% 2,347 0.24% 3,241 0.34% 2,956 0.31% 1,159 0.12% 1,009 0.10% 750 0.08%
Total 3,862,761 40.96% 1,979,767 20.99% 1,892,930 20.07% 1,230,164 13.04% 252,721 2.68% 60,682 0.64% 49,604 0.53% 36,445 0.39% 25,994 0.28% 22,020 0.23% 17,186 0.18%
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Maps

More information First round, George Simion ...
First round
George Simion Nicușor Dan
Crin Antonescu Victor Ponta
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Voter demographics

More information Demographic, George Simion ...
Sociology of the electorate
Demographic George Simion Nicușor Dan Crin Antonescu Victor Ponta Others
Sex
Men 41.6% 18.8% 22.8% 13.5% 3.3%
Women 36.9% 22.0% 21.9% 14.2% 4.9%
Age
18–30 43.6% 34.3% 11.9% 4.8% 5.5%
31–60 42.9% 20.9% 21.4% 10.1% 4.6%
61 or older 29.8% 10.9% 30.5% 26.6% 2.2%
Education
Primary education 48.0% 6.7% 24.3% 17.8% 3.2%
Secondary education 44.2% 15.8% 21.5% 14.3% 4.3%
Higher education 24.8% 38.5% 22.1% 10.1% 4.5%
Settlement type
Urban 34.4% 27.4% 19.4% 13.9% 4.8%
Rural 44.5% 12.9% 25.5% 13.8% 3.3%
Political party (2024 Romanian parliamentary election)
PSD 12.2% 6.6% 39.1% 40.6% 1.5%
AUR 94.3% 2.0% 1.2% 1.6% 0.8%
PNL 10.4% 20.2% 58.6% 8.4% 2.4%
USR 7.5% 68.0% 5.3% 3.3% 15.9%
SOS 59.4% 14.0% 6.8% 11.5% 8.3%
POT 52.2% 22.7% 5.2% 13.1% 6.7%
UDMR 5.0% 9.0% 78.3% 4.3% 3.3%
Other / Independents 23.0% 47.1% 3.6% 21.3% 5.0%
Total
Total vote (exit poll) 38.7% 20.5% 21.6% 14.3% 5.0%
Total vote (actual) 40.96% 20.99% 20.07% 13.04% 4.94%
Source: CURS exit poll[310]
Close

Second round

By county

More information County, Nicușor Dan ...
Results by county[311]
County Nicușor Dan George Simion
Votes % Votes %
Alba 90,248 51.70% 84,307 48.30%
Arad 96,744 47.74% 105,901 52.26%
Argeș 144,461 47.06% 162,489 52.94%
Bacău 132,761 48.87% 138,900 51.13%
Bihor 182,029 63.64% 103,995 36.36%
Bistrița-Năsăud 65,653 49.64% 66,610 50.36%
Botoșani 73,170 45.61% 87,243 54.39%
Brăila 62,978 45.64% 75,009 54.36%
Brașov 199,023 62.69% 118,474 37.31%
Buzău 99,466 49.58% 101,161 50.42%
Călărași 55,059 41.88% 76,416 58.12%
Caraș-Severin 48,785 42.41% 66,237 57.59%
Cluj 298,313 70.16% 126,885 29.84%
Constanța 180,853 50.47% 177,458 49.53%
Covasna 85,153 84.42% 15,721 15.58%
Dâmbovița 107,476 45.70% 127,676 54.30%
Dolj 149,161 51.01% 143,278 48.99%
Galați 126,042 51.96% 116,516 48.04%
Giurgiu 59,717 43.99% 76,035 56.01%
Gorj 59,804 38.52% 95,439 61.48%
Harghita 142,248 90.78% 14,439 9.22%
Hunedoara 87,301 46.43% 100,733 53.57%
Ialomița 49,924 44.43% 62,448 55.57%
Iași 232,461 58.75% 163,233 41.25%
Ilfov 197,499 56.96% 149,226 43.04%
Maramureș 102,658 51.21% 97,812 48.79%
Mehedinți 50,656 44.00% 64,463 56.00%
Mureș 172,218 67.02% 84,764 32.98%
Neamț 102,270 47.53% 112,895 52.47%
Olt 80,832 43.00% 107,130 57.00%
Prahova 196,928 52.24% 180,022 47.76%
Sălaj 67,460 62.19% 41,016 37.81%
Satu Mare 89,328 63.51% 51,327 36.49%
Sibiu 126,977 58.55% 89,905 41.45%
Suceava 123,695 42.37% 168,234 57.63%
Teleorman 69,572 46.48% 80,095 53.52%
Timiș 216,694 58.37% 154,517 41.63%
Tulcea 40,054 41.67% 56,058 58.33%
Vâlcea 81,224 46.32% 94,114 53.68%
Vaslui 76,977 48.68% 81,139 51.32%
Vrancea 71,889 47.18% 80,476 52.82%
Bucharest 749,291 69.65% 326,451 30.35%
Diaspora 723,590 44.22% 912,806 55.78%
Total 6,168,642 53.60% 5,339,053 46.40%
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Maps

Voter demographics

More information Demographic, Nicușor Dan ...
Sociology of the electorate[312]
Demographic Nicușor Dan George Simion
Sex
Men 51.2% 48.8%
Women 59.4% 40.6%
Age
18–30 58.4% 41.6%
31–60 52.5% 47.5%
61 or older 58.6% 41.4%
Education
Primary education 37.5% 62.5%
Secondary education 51% 49%
Higher education 74.5% 25.5%
Settlement type
Urban 61.8% 38.2%
Rural 48.1% 51.9%
First-round presidential candidate
George Simion 3.4% 96.6%
Nicușor Dan 97.6% 2.4%
Crin Antonescu 83.5% 16.5%
Victor Ponta 62% 38%
Elena Lasconi 81.2% 18.8%
Other / Independents 75.2% 24.8%
Total
Total vote (exit poll) 55.2% 44.8%
Total vote (actual) 53.6% 46.4%
Close

Aftermath

First round

Simion at a press conference on 4 May with Silvia Uscov, Petrișor Peiu and Ryszard Czarnecki

Following the results, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced that PSD would leave A.Ro, and he resigned from the position of prime minister, which resulted in the collapse of the coalition. However, he continued to serve as the PSD leader.[313] Lasconi got significantly fewer votes than in the 2024 elections, scoring only 2.68% of the vote.[314] Subsequently, the next day after the elections, she announced she would step down as president of the Save Romania Union.[315] Simion's victory in the first round also had significant economic implications, with the Bucharest Stock Exchange experiencing substantial losses,[316] and the National Bank of Romania investing over 2 billion euros in stabilising the leu and preventing depreciation.[317]

Former Romanian president Traian Băsescu criticised the Romanian diaspora for Simion's victory among its voters. He called the attitude of the majority of the diaspora "dishonest", stating that: "They live in the West and say: come on, you who live at home, come on, go to daddy Putin, go to Putin!".[318] During the campaign, AUR appointed lawyer Silvia Uscov head of its legal team to help in possibly challenging the election results.[319][320] Simion was congratulated on his first-round win by Mateusz Morawiecki, former Polish prime minister and current president of the European Conservatives and Reformists, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini and French MEP Marion Maréchal.[214]

Analysis

After Simion's first-round victory, Moldovan analyst Ion Tăbîrță predicted that, if Simion were to prevail in the second round, Moldova-Romania relations would suffer. Tăbîrță claimed that, were Simion to win, Moldova could lose Romania's support in international relations, including in its path toward European integration. He added that Romania would lose its role as Moldova's "defender" in the eyes of the European Union, as it would no longer have the same image within the bloc. According to another Moldovan analyst, Mihaela Sirețanu, relations between the two countries would become tense: Simion is banned from entering Moldova until 2028. Both Tăbîrță and Sirețanu agreed that Dan's victory would be more favourable for Moldova and its relationship with Romania.[321] BBC's Central Europe Correspondent Nick Thorpe reported that many voters who backed Georgescu in the annulled election switched their allegiance to Simion, and that the two voted together. He predicted that, in the second round, Simion would also attract voters who backed fourth-placed former Prime Minister Victor Ponta, a retired Social Democrat who adopted a "Romania First" campaign.[322]

Second round

Results of the presidential election
First place diaspora votes in Europe by country:
  Nicușor Dan
  George Simion

On the day of the second round, Andrei Țărnea, spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, denounced Russian interference during the election. He stated that a viral fake news campaign on Telegram and other social media was seeking to influence the electoral process, something which was expected as he stated, with the Romanian authorities having proved these news false according to him. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated this situation was alarming because "it appears to have been created with the aim of undermining citizens' confidence in democratic institutions and processes". Furthermore, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Romania stated that a clip had been distributed on TikTok claiming that French troops in Romania, stationed at NATO's Cincu Training Center, were secretly wearing Romanian Gendarmerie uniforms to intervene on Romania's internal affairs, which the ministry stated was false and "pure disinformation".[323]

With a final voter turnout of 64.72% (which translates to 11,641,544 votes),[324] the run-off winner was certified on 18 May by the Central Electoral Bureau to be Dan, with 6,168,642 votes.[325] Simion had prematurely declared victory on Facebook with a post reading: "I won!!! I am the new President of Romania and I am giving back the power to the Romanians!"[326] He later conceded the election, stating "I would like to congratulate my opponent, Nicușor Dan. He won the election, it was the will of the Romanian people".[327][2] Two days later, Simion demanded the annulment of the election, citing "external influence by state and non-state actors" as grounds for annulment, drawing parallels to the court's previous annulment of the December 2024 election over alleged Russian interference, referring to the election as a "farce".[328]

Telegram founder Pavel Durov claimed meanwhile on May 18 that he had been pressured in France in the spring of 2025 to have Telegram remove certain "conservative" messages during the May 2025 presidential election.[329][330] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in France formally denied this in a statement.[310] Following this denial, Durov specifically accused Nicolas Lerner, Director General of External Security (DGSE), of having asked him to carry out this censorship.[331] He did not provide any proof for either of these accusations.[332]

On 21 May, seven out of the 21 deputies and five out of the seven senators of the right-wing populist Party of Young People left the party, bringing the parliamentary group in the Senate below the minimum threshold of members and causing its dissolution.[333][334] On May 22, the Constitutional Court rejected Simion's request and upheld the initial results, thus validating Dan's election.[335] Dan was sworn in on 26 May in front of the Romanian Parliament.[336] In a statement published on 26 May 2025, the AUR party claimed that Lerner had "discreetly" traveled to Romania before the second round of elections.[337] These fake news were denied by the Romanian Foreign Intelligence Service,[338] calling them "attempts at manipulation and disinformation",[2] and by French DGSE.[330]

International reactions

Several leaders from across Europe congratulated Dan on his election; they included French president Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Moldovan president Maia Sandu, Polish prime minister Donald Tusk, and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.[339][340] Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the election results "strange, to say the least", and said Dan had won "in the absence of the favorite", referring to Georgescu.[341] The French intelligence agency DGSE denied claims by George Simion and Telegram founder Pavel Durov that it had interfered with the election.[342]

Institutions

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola visiting Romania and meeting with President Dan
  • European Union: President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola spoke with Dan to congratulate him on his election. She noted that after the announcement of the results, it was deeply moving to see EU flags waved across Romania. Metsola emphasized that the Romanian people could trust and rely on Europe, and she announced that she would visit Romania later that week to deliver this message.[343]
  • NATO: Secretary General of NATO Mark Rutte congratulated Dan in a phone call, stressing that both sides shared the important responsibility of ensuring collective security. He underlined that a strong NATO would promote regional stability and expressed his expectation of close cooperation with Dan, particularly at the upcoming NATO Summit in The Hague.[344]

Analysis

Dan's victory in the second round was unexpected,[345][346] and analysts attributed it to higher voter turnout.[347] Urban voters, women, and ethnic minorities voted for Dan over Simion by large margins.[346] Dan did particularly well among Romania's large population of ethnic Hungarians, who were wary of Simion's nationalist rhetoric despite Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán's apparent endorsement of Simion in the second round. Orbán's endorsement was poorly received in both Hungary and the diaspora.[348] The New York Times columnist Andrew Higgins also opined that Dan's victory indicated that voters "wanted a middle path between bitterly polarized political camps,"[349] while the Atlantic Council argued that Dan benefited from not being associated with the ruling government, and that "Romanians have voted for Europe and democracy, not nationalism, but they also seem to want change."[350] Political analyst and AUR senate leader Petrișor Peiu attributed the result to Dan's strong mobilisation efforts as well as "less inspired" decisions by AUR.[351]

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    Turnout changes are against the 2019 election
  2. [b]
    Turnout changes relative to the 2019 election
  3. [c]
    Also endorsed by other Romanian parties and ethnic minority parties
  4. [d]
    Also endorsed by other Romanian parties
  5. [e]
    The party withdrew its support in favour of Dan, but Lasconi remained on the ballot as a USR candidate
  6. [f]
    In order for a debate to be counted as such, there must be at least two candidates present. The following situations are not considered proper debates: one candidate with one or multiple interviewers; one candidate with a representative (or more) of other candidate(s); only representatives of candidates (no matter how many candidates were represented); one candidate debating a previously recorded video of other candidate(s); short live statements of a candidate (via telephone or video streaming) inserted during a show with only one (other) candidate; short coincidental encounters of candidates (in a non-previously organised debate) that spoke to each other (and were recorded, even on professional cameras in TV studios). Any debate must be publicly broadcast. Negotiations behind closed doors, "strategic meetings" among candidates or any other type of discreet talks are not proper debates, even if their content (or bits of it) was released to the public, with/without the candidates' approval of its release.

    Debates may be broadcast on radio, television, or the internet. Candidates may show up in person or participate in the debate via telephone or video streaming for the entire debate time. Candidates who left the debate before 10% of the debate time elapsed (after a few words or several minutes) are considered absentees and their leaving is noted as such. In this particular situation (if it will occur), the debate is considered a valid one, because at least two candidates were present at its beginning. Candidates who left before the debate's ending are considered present, with their particular situation noted as such. Re-runs or syndication are not counted as different debates.

  7. [g]
    Simion showed up to the debate but walked off stage, after giving a bouquet of flowers to Elena Lasconi, to protest the annulment of the 2024 presidential election[127]
  8. [h]
    With the candidacy of Simion
  9. [i]
    With the candidacy of Ciucă
  10. [j]
    On 9 May 2025, Orbán quoted and commented on Simion in the context of a speech at Tihany Abbey: "'Now comes the time of a Europe of nations, a Christian Europe, within which we will fight for our right to be European citizens.' This was not said in Hungary, but in neighboring Romania. We totally agree. We share a common historical destiny with the Romanians. We are not going to intervene in the ongoing electoral fight for the Romanian presidency, but we do send this message from here, from the center of the Carpathian Basin, from this symbolic place: we can assure Romania's people and future president that we stand on the common ground of solidarity and cooperation and that we therefore will not support any attempt to isolate or enact political vengeance upon Romania and its leaders." The Hungarian press, both in Hungary and in the diaspora, interpreted this as an endorsement of Simion. Orbán denied this was an endorsement and, after speaking with RMDSZ leader Hunor Kelemen the following day, clarified that he supported whatever endorsement RMDSZ issued. RMDSZ subsequently endorsed Dan, but Orbán did not explicitly do so. After the elections, Orbán expressed that he had been "surprised" by the "storm" his "comments in relation to Simion" had caused in the diaspora. Orbán added that it was "correct" that "Romanian Hungarians not cooperate with the far right—though, of course, neither with the far left. In other words, that they not cooperate with those who are enemies of the Hungarians. As to who are Hungarians' enemies: that is something you all, here in Transylvania, know better than anyone else anywhere else in the world."
  11. [k]
    A part of the party
  12. [l]
    Candidate in the 2025 Polish presidential election, the first round of which took place on the same day as the second round of the Romanian election.
  13. [m]
    Also endorsed by ethnic minority parties

References

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