EditSimion’s TikTok campaign ignited fierce divide among Romanians ahead of presidential runoff
Romanians on both sides trade insults while ostensibly sharing the same desire for a “different Romania”
Romanians vote on Sunday (18 May) in a presidential election run-off that pits hard-right eurosceptic George Simion against centrist independent Nicușor Dan, where the outcome could have implications for both the country’s struggling economy and EU unity.
In the last days of the campaign, Simion, leader of the ultranationalist Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), has turned TikTok into a powerful weapon to rally support, particularly among the Romanian diaspora.
With 1.4 million followers on the platform, Simion’s campaign has not only propelled him to the forefront of the race – securing 41% in the first round – but also sparked a bitter online feud between Romanians abroad and those at home. This digital battleground, marked by a wave of insults and clashing visions for Romania’s future, underscores the deep societal fractures that Simion’s populist rhetoric has exposed, as detailed in a recent PressOne article.
Simion’s TikTok strategy is a masterclass in populist mobilisation, blending ultranationalist messaging with viral content tailored to resonate with a disillusioned audience. His videos often feature him in front of Romanian and Moldovan flags, promoting his long-standing goal of unifying the two nations – a cause that strikes a chord with many in the diaspora.
One popular post from early May 2025 shows Simion holding a “Make Romania Great Again” cap, a nod to his alignment with Donald Trump’s MAGA agenda. Captioned “România Mare pentru toți românii!” (A Greater Romania for All Romanians!), the video garnered over 500,000 views and thousands of comments, with diaspora users like @DiasporaPatriot cheering, “Finally, a leader who fights for us! .” This sentiment reflects Simion’s cult-like status among Romanians abroad, many of whom, according to Politico, are less educated and more susceptible to his anti-establishment rhetoric.
However, Simion’s TikTok campaign has also drawn fierce backlash from Romanians in the country, particularly supporters of his opponent, Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan, who secured 21% in the first round. Dan, a progressive figure known for his anti-corruption stance and urban development initiatives, represents a starkly different vision for Romania. On TikTok, his supporters have countered Simion’s nationalist fervor with mockery and warnings about the dangers of extremism.
A viral video posted by @BucurestiModern on 10 May, features a satirical skit portraying Simion as an “extraterestru” (alien) landing in Romania to “abduct” the nation’s future. The caption reads, “Simion wants to take us back 100 years—Nicușor Dan is building a modern Romania! #AlegeViitorul” (Choose the Future). The post racked up 300,000 views but also attracted vitriolic responses from Simion’s supporters, with comments like @RomanAdevarat firing back, “You traitors in Bucharest are selling out our country to the EU! Simion is our only hope!”
This exchange is emblematic of the broader TikTok war described by PressOne, where Romanians on both sides trade insults while ostensibly sharing the same desire for a “different Romania.” Diaspora users often portray Simion as a messiah-like figure who understands their struggles abroad, while domestic users accuse him of peddling dangerous nationalism. Another TikTok post by @RomanianInItaly on May 12, 2025, shows a young man in Milan waving a Romanian flag, saying, “I left Romania because of corrupt politicians – Simion is the only one who cares about us in the diaspora!” The video, which gained 200,000 views, drew sharp rebukes from users like @ClujActivist, who commented, “Simion is a Putin puppet! Wake up—he’ll destroy Romania with his hate!” Such exchanges highlight the emotional intensity of the debate, with terms like “traitor,” “communist,” and “fascist” flung freely across the platform.
The role of TikTok in amplifying these tensions cannot be overstated. Simion’s campaign has been bolstered by meme pages and nationalist influencers, whose content outperforms rivals in views and shares, according to France24.
Yet, the platform’s history in Romania’s elections raises red flags. The country’s November 2024 election was annulled after authorities uncovered a Russia-linked influence operation on TikTok favoring ultranationalist Călin Georgescu. TikTok responded by removing over 27,000 fake accounts linked to Simion and Georgescu, but concerns persist about foreign interference in the current race. Simion’s ability to harness TikTok’s algorithm – despite these crackdowns – has only deepened the divide, turning the platform into a battleground for competing visions of Romania’s future.
For the diaspora, Simion’s promises of national revival and economic justice resonate deeply. A TikTok live session on 14 May, saw Simion addressing diaspora concerns, saying, “You’ve been ignored for too long—I’ll bring you back to a Romania you can be proud of!” The session drew 50,000 viewers, with comments like @LondonRomani flooding in: “We need you, George! The diaspora is with you 100%!” Conversely, domestic users fear Simion’s rhetoric could isolate Romania internationally. A post by @TimisoaraVreaSchimbare on 15 May, warned, “Simion’s ‘Greater Romania’ means war with our neighbors and sanctions from the EU—Nicușor Dan is our path to Europe! ” The video, viewed 150,000 times, sparked a heated comment thread, with diaspora users retorting, “You in Romania don’t understand our pain—Simion does!”
As Romania heads to the polls, the TikTok-fueled rift between diaspora and domestic Romanians reveals a nation at a crossroads. Simion’s campaign, while effective in mobilizing support, has deepened societal fractures, pitting two visions of “a different Romania” against each other. Whether his ultranationalist message will triumph over Dan’s progressive platform remains uncertain, but the scars of this digital divide may linger long after the votes are counted.
Sources: PressOne, Politico, France24, edited by g.g.
A woman passes by a billboard displaying electoral posters of the candidates for the runoff of the 2025 presidential election, in Bucharest, Romania, 16 May 2025. [EPA-EFE/ROBERT GHEMENT]
Updated: May 18, 2025 - 06:51
