George Simion secured the most votes in the first round of the Romanian presidential elections. His party is considered pro-Russian and he has announced plans to allow banned far-right groups to operate again. This fuels fears of further polarization in the country.
In the EU, developments in Romania are being watched with concern. Several European leaders fear that the elections will further destabilize the country and increase Russian influence. They see parallels with earlier tensions in Eastern European countries where Moscow sought to undermine the democratic process.
The situation is worsened by ongoing internal divisions. Romania has experienced periods of major political unrest in recent years, during which rival parties accused each other of corruption and abuse of power. These accusations are flaring up again ahead of the second election round.
The Romanian electoral commission reportedly had to intervene, according to Romania Insider, by invalidating a controversial referendum because it was allegedly misused as a campaign tool by Simion. This incident heightens concerns about the fairness of the elections and possible manipulation of the democratic process.
Russian influence in Romania is the subject of increasing debate. The weekly Newsweek and the news agency Reuters reported that Moscow might be attempting to steer public debate through digital channels. At the same time, opposition voices in Romania are growing louder, but it remains unclear whether they can halt Simion’s rise.
Simion appeals to traditional values and nationalism, strongly opposing the established elites in Bucharest and Brussels. Critics warn that this discourse is not only polarizing but also makes the country vulnerable to foreign interference, especially from Russia.