Valérie Hayer, President of Renew Europe, is in hot water after backing pro-European candidate Nicușor Dan in Romania’s upcoming presidential election, with critics accusing her of meddling in the country’s political affairs.
Dan, an independent candidate, is up against George Simion, a populist from the Alliance for the Reunion of Romanians (AUR), in the final round set for May 18. Simion emerged as the clear leader in the first round, with polls showing him ahead as the election heats up.
Ahead of the decisive vote, Hayer, a staunch ally of French President Emmanuel Macron, made her position clear during an interview with French TV station Franceinfo. She announced that she would “do everything on the ground” to ensure Romania’s next president is “pro-European.”
“We’re going to run an active campaign to make Romanians aware of the importance of this election, which is crucial not only for Romania’s future but also for Europe,” Hayer said, emphasizing the need for a “pro-European project” that respects democratic values and the rule of law. She strongly criticized candidates like Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, saying, “We need a project that upholds the rule of law, not one that undermines it or aligns with pro-Russian forces like Vladimir Putin.”
Hayer is also rallying support from the Romanian diaspora in France, stating she would organize meetings across various countries, especially to encourage Romanians abroad to vote for Dan and continue supporting the European project. However, she faces an uphill battle, as opinion polls suggest that Romanian expatriates tend to favor Simion, who is promising to tackle the very issues that drove many to leave their homeland.
Despite her efforts, Hayer’s stance has sparked strong reactions, particularly from Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National (RN) party. Pierre Gentillet, a former RN candidate, expressed his concerns on X (formerly Twitter), asking, “Isn’t anyone calling this interference? How odd.” Le Pen herself chimed in, saying, “In Romania, the presidential election was practically canceled with the European Commission’s approval. I fully support George Simion, who topped the first round with over 40% of the vote!”
RN MEP Virginie Joron also slammed Hayer’s involvement, accusing her of interfering in the election. “Who are they kidding?” Joron wrote on X. “It was the ruling party that paid for a TikTok campaign to boost so-called ‘extreme’ parties to ensure they would win in the second round. These so-called ‘democrats’ are a threat to the people’s voice.”
Ironically, while Hayer faces accusations of interference, she has previously been outspoken about foreign influence in European elections. In 2025, she accused Elon Musk of manipulating the German elections through algorithmic bias on X, calling for the EU to enforce sanctions under the Digital Services Act to curb disinformation.
Romania’s presidential race has gained significant international attention, with both candidates drawing support from their European ideological allies. However, much of the spotlight has shifted to the nationalist camp following the exclusion of former frontrunner Călin Georgescu, who was banned from running after a controversial ruling by Romania’s Constitutional Court. The exclusion has raised concerns about democratic backsliding in the country, further fueling the ongoing debate over foreign influence in Romanian politics.
As the election approaches, it’s clear that Romania’s political future—along with the broader battle between pro-European and nationalist factions—will continue to attract scrutiny from both local and international observers.
