“Rather than let the future president replace me, I decided to resign myself,” Ciolacu told reporters following a meeting at the headquarters of his Social Democratic Party (PSD). He stated that the ruling coalition, which includes the PSD, the centrist Liberals, and the ethnic Hungarian UDMR, “has no legitimacy, at least in this formula.” Ciolacu confirmed that the PSD would withdraw from the pro-Western coalition, effectively ending the governing alliance, while cabinet ministers will serve in an interim capacity until a new majority is negotiated. The next presidential runoff is scheduled for 18 May.
Sunday’s vote resulted in a clear mandate for Simion, who captured 40.96% of the total vote. This score was nearly double that of the second-placed finisher, Nicușor Dan, the mayor of Bucharest. The two candidates will face each other in the runoff, raising the prospect of a far-right leader joining the ranks of EU heads of state. The coalition’s designated candidate, Crin Antonescu, finished third, a result that represents a significant setback for the government formed after the December elections to maintain Romania’s pro-Western trajectory within the EU and NATO.
Simion, 38, is known for wearing “Make America Great Again” caps and promoting a socially conservative agenda. He has called for the “Melonisation” of Europe, a reference to the policies of Italy’s far-right prime minister. In a statement following the results, Simion described his win as “a victory of Romanian dignity” and “the victory of those who have not lost hope.” He articulated a vision for an EU that “thrives as a nest for its diverse and sovereign nations – not as a rigid system enforcing one-size-fits-all policies.”
The election results have immediate political implications for the European Union. Romania shares a border with Ukraine, and a Simion victory could lead to the country veering away from mainstream EU policies, potentially aligning more closely with Hungary and Slovakia. Political scientist Cristian Pîrvulescu noted that a Simion presidency would strengthen the anti-European bloc within the EU. “The problem now isn’t that Romania is in a hard place, but that the EU is, should George Simion win,” Pîrvulescu said.
The outcome has also drawn reactions from across the political spectrum in Europe. Marine Le Pen, the leader of the French far-right, stated that Romanian voters had sent “a very nice boomerang” to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. This comment echoed claims by Simion and others in Brussels that the original presidential ballot was cancelled due to interference from the Commission. Senior figures in the US administration, including Vice President JD Vance, have previously accused Bucharest of denying democracy in relation to the cancellation of the previous vote.
Simion’s AUR party has grown significantly in recent years, evolving from an anti-vaccination movement into the country’s second-largest political force. In the first round, Simion finished first in 36 of 47 electoral districts and secured 61% of the vote from Romanians living abroad. With the AUR and two other sovereignist parties holding more than a third of parliamentary seats, forming a new governing majority without the far-right bloc will be challenging, particularly if Simion is elected president.
The resignation of Ciolacu marks a dramatic deepening of political turmoil in Romania. The interim government will now focus on stabilizing the country ahead of the decisive runoff vote in May, while European leaders monitor the potential shift in Romanian foreign policy and its impact on regional security and EU cohesion.
