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Marcel Ciolacu has stepped down after a shock presidential rerun that saw right-wing firebrand George Simion take the lead in the first round
Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has announced his resignation and effectively disbanded the country’s pro-EU ruling coalition, after a Eurosceptic right-wing candidate emerged as the frontrunner in the first round of presidential elections.
With over 95% of votes counted in Sunday’s presidential vote rerun, George Simion, leader of the right-wing Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), is projected to secure 40.52% of the vote, according to the news site G4 Media. He is well ahead of his pro-EU challengers, former Senator Crin Antonescu and Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, who both hovered slightly above 20%.
Addressing reporters at his party’s headquarters on Monday, Ciolacu acknowledged that “our coalition has failed to meet its stated objective.”
“I saw the vote cast by Romanians yesterday, and it shows that the coalition, at least in its current form, lacks legitimacy. That is why I have decided that we must leave the coalition, and accordingly, I am submitting my resignation,” the official stated.
The PSD party will also abstain from backing either candidate in the second round of the presidential election slated for May 18. Antonescu, who had been supported by the ruling big tent coalition, comprised of the Social Democrats, the liberal PNL party and the Hungarian minority party UDMR/RMDSZ, failed to secure a place on the run-off ballot.
The “stated objective” Ciolacu referenced likely refers to the coalition’s 2024 campaign promises of stability and pro-EU continuity.
Following the dissolution of the ruling coalition, cabinet ministers are expected to continue serving in an interim capacity for the next 45 days until a new majority emerges after the second round of presidential elections.
Simion is a vocal critic of the European Union, which he has described as a “greedy and corrupt bubble,” and has taken aim at Brussels-mandated immigration and energy policies in particular. While on the campaign trail, the right-wing politician clarified that he favors a “Europe of sovereign nations, not a federal superstate,” and also spoke in defense of “traditional values” in contrast to “globalist ideologies,” represented by LGBTQ and gender ideology.
While insisting that he is not pro-Russian, Simion has opposed weapons deliveries to Ukraine, calling for a negotiated settlement.
In November 2024, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) blacklisted him over “systematic anti-Ukrainian activities.” Neighboring Moldova also banned the Romanian politician after he labeled it an “artificial country” with no chance of ever joining the EU.
The presidential election rerun was held after Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled the results of a vote held in November, in which independent right-wing candidate Calin Georgescu received 23% of ballots cast. The authorities cited “irregularities” in his campaign, as well as intelligence reports claiming that Russia had meddled in the election – an allegation Moscow has strongly denied.
In March, the Central Electoral Bureau barred Georgescu from running again, citing his alleged “extremist” stance and a failure to comply with electoral procedures.
Simion has publicly supported Georgescu, arriving together with him at a polling station on Sunday.
“We are here with a single mission: to restore constitutional order and democracy,” the AUR candidate told reporters.
