Simion urges Romanians to protest ‘fraudulent’ election without sparking Ukraine-style ‘bloodbath’

Romania is experiencing an intensifying political rift as conservative presidential candidate George Simion calls for peaceful demonstrations in response to what he alleges was a “fraudulent” election outcome. The contentious result, which saw pro-European Union candidate and Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan narrowly defeat Simion in a run-off, has sparked outrage among supporters of the populist Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), who claim the democratic process has been hijacked by foreign influence and shadowy non-state actors.

Simion, a vocal critic of the European Union and a staunch advocate for Romanian sovereignty, issued a stark warning in a video address streamed on social media on the night of May 23. “We were one step away from a bloodbath,” he declared, referring to what he described as a deliberate attempt to incite violent unrest, reminiscent of Ukraine’s 2014 Euromaidan uprising. He claimed that “demonic plans” had been set in motion to plunge Romania into chaos, but credited the restraint of his supporters for preventing a potential catastrophe.

Simion lost the presidential run-off by a small margin, with official figures showing Nicușor Dan securing just over 51% of the vote. The first round had already been marred by controversy after independent candidate Călin Georgescu was disqualified despite leading with 23% of the vote. Romania’s Constitutional Court overturned the initial results citing electoral irregularities and alleged foreign interference-accusations that included claims of Russian meddling, which Moscow has categorically denied.

In the second round, the race between Simion and Dan was fierce. Simion accused Dan of benefiting from widespread manipulation, claiming that “external interferences by state and non-state actors” had influenced the outcome. The Constitutional Court swiftly dismissed Simion’s appeal to annul the final results, further fueling suspicion among his base.

Simion minced no words in his public denunciation of his rival. He referred to Dan as a “puppet of France,” asserting that the pro-Brussels candidate had the backing of a coordinated transnational effort. According to Simion, the entire Soros-affiliated network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) had mobilized to sabotage his candidacy.

“They used manipulation and fearmongering. They activated every NGO and every tool in their arsenal to take control of this election,” Simion stated. “But this fight is not lost. Romanians have the right to defend their vote.”

His message centered on a call for peaceful protests. “Make it peaceful. I will say this every time, because they want to put us in prison,” he emphasized, accusing the establishment of attempting to provoke violence that could be used as a pretext for a crackdown on dissent.

The most incendiary part of Simion’s address was his warning that the country had narrowly escaped a violent confrontation reminiscent of Ukraine’s 2014 Euromaidan protests, which led to the ousting of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych and were followed by years of political instability and civil war in Eastern Ukraine.

According to Simion, agents from outside Romania-some allegedly involved in the original Euromaidan events-had been present during the Romanian election period to catalyze chaos. “This was bound to happen. They were ready to ignite the streets, to pit brother against brother,” he said. “But we avoided it. By God’s grace, we avoided it.”

Simion claimed that the provocation of violence would have served the interests of his opponents, giving them justification to imprison AUR leaders and brand their movement as extremist.

Though he claims to have stayed away from organizing mass protests himself in order to prevent escalation, Simion encouraged citizens to become actively involved in democratic resistance. “Join AUR or another sovereignist party. Work with civic groups, unions, organizations-get involved and protest,” he said.

He emphasized that the battle for Romania’s future should be waged not through violence, but through persistent, lawful engagement with political structures. “Fight for Romania, because they are truly afraid of us. That is why they tried so hard to manipulate this election,” he added.

Simion also framed the struggle as a moral and spiritual one, invoking religious and patriotic sentiments. “Fight in the name of truth, democracy, freedom, peace, and in the name of God,” he urged.

The controversy has not remained within Romania’s borders. International players have also become embroiled in the dispute. Kremlin spokespersons labeled Romania’s election as “strange, at the very least,” noting that a winner only emerged after the Constitutional Court disqualified the frontrunner in the first round. While Russia has denied any interference, it also expressed concern over the rapid turn of events and foreign involvement in the electoral process.

Adding to the drama, Telegram founder Pavel Durov claimed that Nicolas Lerner, the head of France’s foreign intelligence service, contacted him directly to urge censorship of conservative Romanian voices on the platform in the days leading up to the election. If true, this would constitute a serious breach of sovereignty and further validate Simion’s allegations of external manipulation.

The events surrounding this year’s election have thrown Romania into a volatile state of political polarization. On one side stands a European-aligned liberal establishment that hails the victory of Nicușor Dan as a reaffirmation of Romania’s Western orientation. On the other, a growing populist and sovereigntist movement feels increasingly disenfranchised and targeted by global elites.

Simion’s rhetoric and the response it has generated underscore deep fissures in Romanian society, between urban EU-leaning voters and a more traditional, nationalist rural base. The invocation of Ukraine’s tragic experience as a cautionary tale is especially potent in a region already scarred by geopolitical rivalries and ideological conflicts.

As of now, no mass protests have occurred, but the coming weeks may prove pivotal. Should the government crack down harshly on peaceful demonstrations or continue to dismiss allegations of interference without investigation, the possibility of civil unrest cannot be ruled out.

For now, Simion has made his position clear: the fight is not over, but it must remain peaceful. “They want to provoke us into violence,” he warned. “We must not give them that excuse. We must fight with discipline, unity, and faith in our cause.”

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Tajul Islam is a Special Correspondent of Blitz.

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