George Simion

He studied business administration and history and founded the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) in 2019. He has sat in the Chamber of Deputies since 2020 and became vice president of the European Conservatives and Reformists Party in 2025. He placed first in the first round of the 2025 presidential election and lost the runoff to Nicușor Dan. In 2026 he said AUR would back only a prime minister that AUR itself nominates; a Capital.ro report on his remarks does not show him seeking the post personally.

Career

Wikipedia says Simion graduated in business administration from the University of Bucharest in 2008 and took a master's in history at Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in 2010. He founded AUR and has chaired it since 1 December 2019. He entered the Chamber of Deputies for Bucharest in December 2020 and became vice president of the European Conservatives and Reformists Party in January 2025. He ran for president in 2024, taking 13.86% and fourth place. In 2025 he won the first round with 40.96%, then took 46.40% in the runoff and lost to Nicușor Dan.

Positions

Wikipedia reports that Simion advocates union between Romania and Moldova and opposes same-sex marriage and gender quotas. It also says he backs the expansion of Israeli settlements. Politico, as quoted on Wikipedia, reported him saying in April 2025 that AUR and the US Republican Party are natural allies. Wikipedia reports that outlets such as the Wall Street Journal and Le Monde call him far-right. In 2026 he said AUR could vote only for a prime minister proposed by AUR (Capital.ro).

Summarised automatically from the linked sources. Wikipedia · Capital.ro

Photo: AUR Alianța pentru Unirea Românilor, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons (cropped)