Hard-right nationalist George Simion to contest Romania's election result

The 38 year old had been the favourite to win at the polls, but unexpectedly lost to pro-Western candidate Nicusor Dan.

George Simion, the leader of Romania’s hard-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), has asked a top court to annul the country’s Presidential election result, citing concerns over alleged voter irregularities and foreign interference.

Simion, a vocal nationalist and populist figure, lost the election, after losing in the runoff to pro- Western candidate Nicusor Dan, the Bucharest mayor who obtained 53.6% of the vote, a margin of more than 829,000 votes.

The Trump supporter claims his party is being unfairly targeted and that the integrity of the electoral process is under threat. Speaking at a press conference, Simion warned of a "national betrayal" and said he would not accept the outcome of the vote without a full investigation into what he described as a compromised process.

“Out of respect for the millions of supporters, lovers of the homeland, for legal accuracy and for justice, I am forced to take these steps.” Simion said. “The fraud, as we report, was at the level of adding extra votes for my opponent and at the influence of these state and non-state actors.”

He also alleged that “deceased people” had participated in the vote.

Simion’s AUR party, known for its anti-immigration rhetoric, Euroscepticism, and appeals to Romanian identity, has gained ground in recent years, especially among younger voters and the diaspora.

Romanian election authorities have denied any wrongdoing and emphasised the transparency and independence of the voting process.

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