Honestly, if you missed the news last year, you'd be forgiven for being totally confused about why Romania went to the polls in May. It was a mess. A massive, historic, "is this actually happening?" kind of mess. We aren't just talking about a regular vote. We’re talking about an entire national election being thrown into the trash can by a court just 48 hours before the finish line.
The 2025 Romanian presidential election dates didn't even exist on anyone's calendar until the very end of 2024. Originally, the country thought it would have a new president by Christmas 2024. But then the Constitutional Court stepped in, declassified some wild intelligence reports about Russian TikTok bots, and basically told the country: "Reset. We’re doing the whole thing over."
The Dates That Actually Mattered
When the dust settled from the 2024 annulment, the government had to scramble. You can't just pick a Sunday and say "vote now." There are laws. Specifically, there’s a 75-day window required between calling the election and the actual ballot day.
On January 8, 2025, the government finally stopped the guessing game and fixed the official timeline.
- May 4, 2025: The First Round.
- May 18, 2025: The Second Round (Run-off).
It felt like forever for a country that had been in "election mode" since the previous summer. Between the first round and the runoff, there was this intense, two-week pressure cooker. People were exhausted. But the stakes were so high that turnout actually jumped. In the first round, about 53% of people showed up. By the second round on May 18? That number climbed to nearly 65%.
Why Did We Need a Re-run Anyway?
It’s kinda wild when you think about it. In November 2024, an independent candidate named Călin Georgescu—who barely had 1% in the polls months earlier—suddenly won the first round. He didn't use TV ads. He didn't have a party. He just had TikTok.
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Then came the "black swan" moment. On December 6, 2024, the Constitutional Court annulled everything. They cited massive, state-sponsored interference. Basically, they argued that the playing field wasn't just tilted; it was being manipulated by external actors (read: Russia) using AI and undeclared funds.
This led to months of protests. People were in the streets of Bucharest daily. Some were mad that their vote was cancelled; others were terrified of the far-right surge. This political "limbo" lasted until the new 2025 Romanian presidential election dates were set, with Klaus Iohannis staying on as a "lame duck" president until he eventually resigned in February, leaving Ilie Bolojan as the acting head of state.
The Candidates Who Actually Made the Ballot
The 2025 race was not a carbon copy of 2024. Some people were barred. Others lost their momentum.
- Nicușor Dan: The Mayor of Bucharest. He ran as an independent but got the backing of the pro-European parties like USR. He became the "stability" candidate.
- George Simion: The leader of the AUR party. After Georgescu was barred from running in March 2025 due to legal issues and investigations into his campaign funding, Simion became the main vessel for the nationalist vote.
- Crin Antonescu: A veteran politician who came back as a joint candidate for the big coalition (PSD-PNL). He was supposed to be the safe bet, but he ended up being the "odd man out" in the first round.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Result
Most outside observers thought the nationalist wave would just keep growing. They were wrong.
While George Simion actually crushed the first round on May 4 with about 41% of the vote, the "anti-Simion" vote consolidated. People who hated the traditional parties still preferred a pro-Western mayor over a radical nationalist.
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In the runoff on May 18, 2025, Nicușor Dan won with 53.6%. It wasn't a landslide, but in a country as divided as Romania was last spring, it was enough. He was sworn in on May 26, 2025.
Actionable Insights for Following Romanian Politics
If you're trying to keep track of what's happening now that the 2025 cycle is over, here is what you should actually do:
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- Watch the "Rotation" Agreement: Romania is currently under a coalition where the Prime Minister position switches between parties. Ilie Bolojan (PNL) is the current PM, but that's scheduled to flip to the PSD in 2027. This is usually where the drama happens.
- Monitor the Constitutional Court (CCR): As we saw in 2024, the CCR has immense power. Their rulings on who can and cannot run for office are now the most important legal precedents in the country.
- Check Official Sources: Don't trust TikTok clips for election data. Always cross-reference with the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP) or the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) archives for the final, certified numbers.
- Follow Local Journalists: Reporters like those at G4Media or Recorder.ro often get the scoop on coalition infighting long before it hits international news.
The saga of the 2025 election proved that dates on a calendar are just suggestions until the courts and the voters actually have their final say. It was a stressful year, but it redefined how Romania handles digital interference and democratic guardrails.