George Simion, a nationalist figure and vocal ally of US President Donald Trump, surged ahead in the first round of Romania’s presidential election on Sunday, capturing 40% of the vote, according to official electoral data with 99% of ballots counted.

The 38-year-old leader of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) outpaced all ten other contenders in a closely watched rerun of the presidential vote. Far behind were Bucharest’s pro-EU mayor, Nicusor Dan, with 20.9%, and the governing coalition’s joint candidate, Crin Antonescu, at 20.3%.

The Romanian presidential runoff, scheduled for May 18, will now pit Simion against Dan in a contest that could redefine the country's future direction.

Fallout from annulled vote fuels far-right momentum

The rerun follows a dramatic annulment of the November 24, 2024, election by Romania’s top court amid allegations of foreign interference and manipulation through social media. That vote had propelled far-right outsider Calin Georgescu to the front, but he was subsequently barred over claims of Russian support and a TikTok-driven campaign, which Moscow has denied.

Simion, who succeeded Georgescu as AUR’s candidate, has ridden a wave of public outrage over the annulment. Celebrating his first-round success, he told cheering supporters, “Together we made history today,” adding, “I have a single objective: to give back to the Romanian people what was taken from them.”

From TikTok campaigns to Trump caps: Simion’s MAGA-style strategy

Known for his online-heavy campaign style, Simion has attracted both younger voters and Romania’s influential diaspora. He frequently appears in a “Make America Great Again” cap and has openly declared his ambition to become Romania’s “MAGA president".

“We are here with a single mission: to return to democracy – and bring justice to Romania,” Simion said after casting his ballot, joined by Georgescu, whom he pledged to appoint in his future administration.

Simion portrays himself as more moderate than Georgescu but shares his deep skepticism of what he calls “Brussels’ unelected bureaucrats.” He has vowed to reduce Romania’s support for Ukrainian refugees and opposes sending military aid to Ukraine, though he often criticizes Russia rhetorically.

Romania at crossroads ahead of May 18 runoff

With its geopolitical ties and democratic trajectory on the line, the second round of Romania’s presidential election will determine whether the country leans further into euroscepticism or maintains its alignment with the European Union and NATO.

Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan, who ran on a pro-Western, anti-corruption platform, acknowledged the uphill battle he faces, saying, “It’s our task to convince Romanians that Romania needs the pro-Western direction and our campaign will be focused on that in the next two weeks.”

Analysts warn that Dan’s lack of rural support and strained ties with mainstream parties may hinder his chances. However, his independent profile may help him avoid the anti-establishment backlash that has fueled Simion’s rise.

Concerns mount as Simion challenges Romania’s foreign policy path

Simion’s ascension has raised alarms in European capitals. His victory in the first round comes as the EU grapples with growing influence from eurosceptic leaders, including the prime ministers of Hungary and Slovakia. A Simion presidency could alter Romania’s traditionally pro-EU and pro-NATO stance, potentially aligning more closely with Trump-era foreign policy positions.

Oana Popescu, director of the GlobalFocus Centre, remarked that Romania now stands “at a crossroads.” She warned that a Simion victory could see Romania adopt "a much more ambiguous foreign policy that is more amenable to pressure from the Trump administration, which very much matches the interests of the Kremlin.”

Simion's rise, analysts say, could also destabilize NATO’s eastern flank and chill foreign investment.

In response to concerns surrounding the previous election, the United States sent observers to monitor Sunday’s vote. Authorities in Romania said they had intensified cooperation with TikTok and implemented preventive measures to ensure “fair and transparent” elections.

Read more: Romania top court justifies ban on Georgescu presidential run