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Hardline candidate wins first round of Romanian presidential elections

May 5, 2025, 9:06am EDT
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George Simion
Alkis Konstantinidis/File Photo/Reuters

An anti-immigration hardliner who wants to halt military aid to Ukraine won the first round of Romania’s presidential election.

In a resounding defeat for Romania’s pro-European governing coalition, George Simion, a firm supporter of US President Donald Trump who rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic for pushing back against mass vaccination, garnered 41% of the vote.

The results represent a major setback for the European Union and Ukraine: A Simion presidency would likely position Romania alongside Hungary and Slovakia as EU member-states skeptical of supporting Kyiv.

Simion will now face the centrist mayor of Bucharest in the final round, in two weeks’ time.

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