International Press Reacts to Romania’s Presidential Election: A Political Turning Point
By Mihai Manea
Romania’s presidential election, held on May 4, 2025, has drawn significant international attention following a stunning first-round result that placed far-right candidate George Simion at the top of the race, with 40.3% of the vote. The unexpected rise of nationalist forces and the backdrop of foreign interference have made Romania a focal point in European political discourse.
A Shock to the Political Establishment
The Guardian (UK) described Simion’s success as “raising fears of a shift away from the country’s pro-European trajectory,” noting his ultranationalist profile and skepticism toward military aid to Ukraine: ” Far-right Trump ally secures decisive win in first round of Romania’s presidential election rerun”
FINANCIAL TIMES: Far-right candidate wins first round of Romania’s election rerun
Financial Times echoed this concern, highlighting a broader European trend:
“Simion’s success reflects growing disenchantment with Romania’s traditional political elites.”
The article also pointed out that election day was “marred by cyberattacks blamed on Russian hackers targeting government websites.”
German Media: Far-Right Surge Raises Alarm
In Germany, the press reacted strongly. Die Welt reported:
“In the first round of Romania’s presidential election, the far-right candidate George Simion leads with 30 to 33 percent of the votes, according to forecasts.”
Bild, Germany’s most-read tabloid, warned of the implications for Romania’s Western alignment:
“The right-wing candidate George Simion is clearly ahead… suggesting a dramatic political shift.”
Canadian and Italian Reactions
BNN Bloomberg in Canada reported on the political instability surrounding the rerun election:
“A voter casts a ballot in the village of Nuci… amid a backdrop of nationalist momentum and recent disqualification of pro-Russian candidates.”
CityNews Halifax reminded readers of the annulled first round: “Romania’s top court annuls first round of presidential vote won by far-right candidate.”
While detailed reporting from Italian outlets like La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera was less immediately visible, regional commentary has generally aligned with the concern seen across European capitals about the rise of right-wing populism within the EU.
POLITICO: The Simion-Trump-Meloni Parallel / Meet George Simion, the hard-right Romanian election winner … who’s banned from Ukraine
In a series of detailed analyses, Politico described Simion as a candidate modeling himself on populist leaders:
“George Simion has two role models: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.”
The outlet previously reported that Simion had been cleared to run in the rerun election following the disqualification of Călin Georgescu, whose candidacy was marred by suspected foreign interference.
CNN: Romanian nationalist and Trump ally Simion wins first round of presidential vote
Conclusion
The international reaction to Romania’s presidential election underscores its symbolic weight in the ongoing debate over democracy, sovereignty, and the European future. With George Simion and Nicușor Dan now advancing to a highly anticipated runoff, the world watches closely as Romania stands at a political crossroads.
05.05.2025 / Editor, Andreea Dragan
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