2025 Romanian presidential election

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2025 Romanian presidential election
Flag of Romania.svg
  2024 4 May 2025 (first round)
18 May 2025 (second round)
Registered19,005,434 [1]
 
Crin Antonescu - 24 February 2025 (cropped).jpg
Nicusor-Dan.jpg
Capture d'ecran 2025-02-09 095228.png
Nominee Crin Antonescu Nicușor Dan Elena Lasconi
Party Independent [a] Independent [b] USR
Alliance A.Ro  [ ro ]

Incumbent President

Ilie Bolojan (acting)
PNL



Presidential elections will be held in Romania on 4 and 18 May 2025, following the annulment of the results of the 2024 presidential election. [2] [3]

Contents

Background

Previous election annulled

On 6 December 2024, the 2024 presidential election was annulled by the Constitutional Court of Romania, 48 hours before the second round was to be held, due to alleged Russian intervention on behalf of independent candidate, Călin Georgescu, who took a shock lead in the first round with 23%. [4] CSAT said the campaign was "identical" to the online campaign launched by Russia before its invasion of Ukraine and which led to the cancellation of the first round. On 20 December, an investigation was published showing that PNL had seemingly paid for one of the TikTok campaigns. [5] PNL interim president Ilie Bolojan has stated however that the campaign was altered illegally to favor Georgescu, yet has not blamed the company they worked with for this alteration. [6]

Second Ciolacu cabinet

After the parliamentary election, the second Ciolacu cabinet was formed as a minority coalition between PSD, PNL, UDMR and with confidence and supply from minority parties. In December 2024, days before Christmas. Furthermore, Ilie Bolojan became President of the Senate of Romania and Ciprian-Constantin Șerban became President of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania. The cabinet passed with a seven-vote majority and became official. Opposition leaders (most prominently George Simion and POT Leader Anamaria Gavrilă) called the cabinet illegitimate and for the resignation of incumbent president Klaus Iohannis. [7] [8] [9]

President Klaus Iohannis' resignation and political crisis

Following the annulment of the 2024 Romanian presidential election in December, Iohannis was allowed to stay on as president by the Constitutional Court until his successor could be sworn in. However, on 10 February, following an attempt by members of parliament to impeach him, Iohannis announced that he would resign on 12 February. [10] Senate president Ilie Bolojan assumed the role of acting president until the elections. [11]

Criminal charges against Călin Georgescu

On 26 February 2025, Georgescu was stopped by police in traffic, while allegedly on his way to register for the election. He was charged with six offenses, including incitement to actions against the constitutional order, and support of fascist groups. [12] Preemptive measures have been imposed, including judiciary control, and a 60-day ban on posting xenophobic and antisemitic materials to social networks (although such actions are already illegal in Romania). [13] [14]

Election date

The date of the first round had initially been set as 23 March 2025, with the runoff two weeks later (6 April 2025). In early January, these dates became obsolete, as the law for electing the President of Romania requires a minimum of 75 days between the election day and the day the election is called. On 8 January, the coalition fixed the dates of the election. The first round is scheduled to be held on 4 May 2025 with the second round two weeks later (18 May 2025). [15] [16]

DateEvent
8 JanuaryThe government fixed the date for the election (First round on 4 may 2025)
20 FebruaryThe Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) is constituted (Judges from the High Court of Cassation and Justice drawn, and representatives of the Permanent Electoral Authority)
21 FebruaryThe Central Electoral Bureau is finalised (representatives form the parliamentary parties)
23 FebruaryDeadline for registration of electoral alliances at BEC
15 MarchDeadline for candidates to register
4 AprilThe start of the electoral campaign (at 7:00)
2 MayThe end of the electoral campaign (at 22:00)
Voting at polling stations abroad begins at 7:00 a.m. local time
4 MayVoting in Romania begins at 7:00 a.m.

Candidates

The Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) was constituted on 21 February 2025. [17] The deadline for registering electoral alliances at the BEC was on 23 February 2025. By that deadline, only one electoral alliance was registered, between the governing PSD, PNL, and UDMR, called the Romania Forward Electoral Alliance (Alianța Electorală România Înainte; A.Ro for short). [18]

Persons who wish to run for the office may begin gathering the support signatures (a minimum of 200,000) after 23 February. The deadline for registering the candidacy at the BEC is 15 March 2025, at 23:59:59. All candidatures validated by the BEC must pass the scrutiny of the Constitutional Court of Romania. As the procedures are currently undergoing, the following is a list of persons that have explicitly affirmed interest in running or not. [19]

Registered candidates

NameBornCampaignPublic Office ExperienceAlma mater and professionPartyEndorsed byCandidacy related dates
Nicusor-Dan.jpg

Nicușor Dan
20 December 1969 (55)
Făgăraș, BV
Slogan: România onestă
(Honest Romania)
nicusordan.ro
General Mayor of Bucharest (2020-present), deputy/MP (2016–2020), and Bucharest General Councilor (2016) University of Bucharest, École normale supérieure, University of Paris Independent Justice and Respect in Europe for All Party Announced intention to run: 16 December 2024 [20]
DREPT Party announces support: 18 December 2024 [21]
PMP, and FD announce support: 2 February 2025 [22]
REPER Party announces support: 1 March 2025 [23]
Registered at BEC: 7 March 2025 [24]
BEC validation: 9 March 2025 [25]
People's Movement Party
Force of the Right
Renewing Romania's European Project
Crin Antonescu - 24 February 2025 (cropped).jpg
Crin Antonescu
21 September 1959 (65)
Tulcea, TL
Slogan: România, înainte!
(Forward, Romania!)
crinantonescu.ro
Acting President (2012), Minister of Youth and Sport (1997-2000), President of the Senate (2012–2014), senator (2008–2016), and deputy/MP (1992–2008) University of Bucharest Independent [26] Romania Forward Electoral Alliance Social Democratic Party Announced as common PSD, PNL, and UDMR candidate: 24 December 2024 [27]
Announced self-suspension of campaign: 4 January 2025 [28]
Validated as PNL candidate: 26 January 2025 [29]
Validated as UDMR candidate: 29 January 2025 [30]
Validated as PSD candidate: 2 February 2025 [31]
Registered at BEC: 9 March 2025 [32]
National Liberal Party
Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania
Minorities

Declared candidates

NameBornCampaignPublic Office ExperienceAlma mater and professionPartyCandidacy related dates
Capture d'ecran 2025-02-09 095228.png
Elena Lasconi
20 April 1972
(52)
Hațeg, HD
elenalasconi.ro Mayor of Câmpulung (2020–present)Faculty of Management, Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies (2001) [33]

Economist, journalist
Save Romania Union Announced as still being the USR candidate: 10 January 2025 [34]
Cristian Sima  [ ro ]22 May 1961
(63)
Budești, CL
Slogan: Schimbă Constituția
(Change the Constitution)
cristiansima.ro/
schimbaconstitutia.ro/
Member of the Council of Administration of Bucharest Stock Exchange (2007) University of Bucharest
Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa
IndependentAnnounced intention to run: 27 December 2024 [35]
Victor Ponta debate November 2014.jpg
Victor Ponta
20 September 1972
(52)
Bucharest, IF
Slogan: România pe primul loc
(Romania First!)
victorponta.ro/
Prime Minister (2012-2015), deputy/MP (2004–2020, 2024-present), Minister of Parliamentary Relations (2008-2009), and Minister-Delegate for Control of International Grant Programmes Implementation and for Monitoring the Application of the Acquis Communautaire (2004) University of Bucharest
Carol I National Defence University
IndependentExpressed interest: 19 January 2025 [36] [37]
Announced the collecting of supporting signatures: 5 February 2025 [38]
Announced intention to run: 19 February 2025 [39]
Launched campaign/program: 6 March 2025 [40]

Expressed interest publicly

Potential candidates

Declined to run

Rejected candidates

NameBornCampaignPublic Office ExperienceAlma mater and professionPartyEndorsed byCandidacy related dates
26 March 1962
(age 62)
Bucharest
Executive director of the United Nations Global Sustainable Index Institute in Geneva (2015–2016)
Executive director of the National Center of Sustainable Development (1997–2013)
Secretary of State with the Ministry of Environment (c. 2010)
University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest (1986)

Agronomist
Independent Alliance for the Union of Romanians Registered at BEC: 7 March 2025 [50]
Candidacy rejected: 9 March 2025 [51] [52]
Party of Young People
IndependentRegistered at BEC: 6 March 2025 [53]
Candidacy rejected: 6 March 2025 [54]
IndependentRegistered at BEC: 7 March 2025
Candidacy rejected: 9 March 2025 [55]
IndependentRegistered at BEC: 7 March 2025
Candidacy rejected: 9 March 2025 [56]

Opinion polls

First round

PollDateSample Georgescu
Ind.
Lasconi
USR
Simion
AUR
Becali
AUR
Bolojan
PNL
Antonescu
Ind.
Dan
Ind.
Șoșoacă
S.O.S.
Funeriu
Ind.
Ponta
Ind.
Others
9 March 2025 Călin Georgescu rejected as a candidate by the Central Election Bureau
MKOR 25-28 Feb 20251.10044.1%9.4%0.6%1.8%14.7%8.9%14.2%4.2%2.1%
Verifield 14-28 Feb 20251.00041.1%7.0%18.5%12.4%3.0%1.0%17%
AtlasIntel 21-24 Feb 20252.94738.4%5.8%0.9%15.8%25.4%7.5%6.2%
FlashData 14-16 Feb 20257.50037%9%17%21%3%1%5%1%
Sociopol 10-14 Feb 20251.00145%10%6%10%10%2%16%1%
9%24%14%16%9%22%1%
Sociopol 27–30 Jan 20251.00347%8%4%10%10%4%16%1%
9%24%14%16%14%22%1%
CURS 21–25 Jan 20251.10037%7%18%21%4%13%
13%25%23%24%15%
Avangarde 10–16 Jan 20251.35438%6%6%25%17%5%3%
Sociopol 10–15 Jan 20251.00150%10%6%8%10%5%15%1%
13%35%10%13%26%3%
Noi, Cetățenii 23 Dec 2024–13 Jan 20251.06735%8%2%16%25%8%8%6%
Cozmin Gușă 28–29 Dec 202439%9%17%14%9%5%7%
Nicușor Dan Dec 2024 [c] 40%8%24%18%10%
Election 24 Nov 20249.242.18622.94%19.18%13.86% [d] 8.79% [e] 35.23%

Second round

Georgescu vs Antonescu

PollDateSample Georgescu
Ind.
Antonescu
Ind.
Undecided
Avangarde 10–16 Jan 20251,35439.038.023.0

Georgescu vs Dan

PollDateSample Georgescu
Ind.
Dan
Ind.
Undecided
MKOR 25–28 Feb 20251,10042.036.022.0
AtlasIntel 21–24 Feb 20252.94740.945.014.5
Avangarde 10–16 Jan 20251,35443.032.025.0

Georgescu vs Lasconi

PollDateSample Georgescu
Ind.
Lasconi
USR
Undecided
Avangarde 10–16 Jan 20251,35444.031.025.0

Georgescu vs Bolojan

PollDateSample Georgescu
Ind.
Bolojan
PNL
Undecided
MKOR 25–28 Feb 20251,10040.042.018.0

See also

Notes

  1. Endorsed by PSD, PNL, UDMR and Minorities
  2. Endorsed by DREPT, PMP, FD and REPER
  3. Poll conducted around the holidays
  4. With the candidacy of Simion
  5. With the candidacy of Ciucă

References

  1. Permanent Electoral Authority Press Release
  2. 1 2 Fodor, Simona (16 December 2024). "Romania elections: Bucharest mayor to run for president in 2025". Romania Insider. Archived from the original on 17 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
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  4. "Anulate, rezultatele primului tur al alegerilor prezidențiale din România". Vatican News (in Romanian). 6 December 2024. Archived from the original on 7 December 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  5. "INVESTIGAȚIE. ANAF a descoperit că PNL e cel care a plătit o campanie care l-a promovat masiv pe Călin Georgescu pe TikTok / SNOOP: Este campania "Echilibru și Verticalitate", despre care CSAT a spus că este "identică" cu campania online lansată de Rusia înainte de invadarea Ucrainei - HotNews.ro" (in Romanian). 20 December 2024. Archived from the original on 20 December 2024.
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  17. BEC 2025 press release
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  33. "Primarul Municipiului Câmpulung – Biografie".
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