site.btaPro-European Candidate Nicusor Dan Wins Romania’s Presidential Election in Tight Race

Pro-European candidate Nicusor Dan has won Romania’s presidential election in a closely contested race against hard-line nationalist George Simion, according to nearly complete vote counts. High voter turnout played a crucial role in the tense vote, which many observers described as a choice between the East and the West, the Associated Press reported.

The elections were held five months after Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled the presidential elections in 2024 following allegations of Russian interference and a large-scale social media campaign supporting far-right independent candidate Calin Georgescu, who won the first round at the time. The Constitutional Court and Central Electoral Bureau barred Georgescu from participating again in the May election.

In the first round of voting on May 4, the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), George Simion, came first with nearly 41% of the vote, while Dan finished second with some 21%. Several opinion polls predicted Simion, an EU sceptic and supporter of US President Donald Trump, would maintain his lead in the runoff. He had pledged to appoint Georgescu as prime minister and suspend aid to Ukraine if elected.

The 55-year-old Nicusor Dan has been described by Agence France-Presse as a brilliant mathematician known for his fight against corruption in Bucharest. He has served as the mayor of Bucharest since 2020 and was re-elected in 2024. Dan founded the Save Bucharest Union, which evolved into the Save Romania Union party, currently the second-largest opposition force in the country, though he left it in 2017 due to internal disagreements.

During his campaign, Dan advocated for a “clear Western orientation”, strengthening transatlantic ties, the strategic partnership with the United States, and EU-U.S. cooperation. He supports European defence initiatives, the development of the national arms industry, and gradually increasing defence spending to 3.5% of GDP. Dan also pledged unconditional support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Running as an independent, Dan was endorsed in the runoff by three of Romania’s four pro-European parties: the National Liberal Party (PNL), Save Romania Union (USR), and the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR). Only the Social Democratic Party (PSD), led by former Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, remained neutral.

Dan said that he favours a government coalition of the four pro-Western parties – USR, PNL, PSD, and UDMR – and mentioned that he sees Romania’s acting president Ilie Bolojan as a potential prime minister. After the results were announced, Dan said he plans to begin informal talks on forming a new government as early as Monday and reiterated his support for Bolojan, though “he could not make any promises yet”. Former prime minister Ciolacu resigned after the first round when the coalition-backed candidate failed to reach the runoff.

Romanian media described Dan’s victory as a “spectacular turn of events”, given his opponent’s lead of some 20% in the first round. “Starting tomorrow, Romania is entering a new chapter, and it needs every one of you,” Dan said Sunday evening in a speech to thousands of supporters who gathered in central Bucharest waving Romanian and EU flags and chanting slogans like “We are here,” “Unity,” “Europe,” “Nicusor,” and “Russia, do not forget – Romania is not yours,” according to Digi24 TV.

AUR leader George Simion conceded defeat and congratulated his opponent, saying the result reflected “the will of the Romanian people”. He added that the political battle was far from over and that “this war is only just beginning”.

Several European leaders welcomed Dan’s victory. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were among the first to congratulate him.

Independent candidate Nicusor Dan received 6,104,979 votes (53.78%) in the runoff, according to near-final data from Romania’s Permanent Electoral Authority, which had processed 20,037 out of 20,085 tally sheets (99.76%). His opponent, AUR candidate George Simion, garnered 5,247,092 votes (46.22%), Agerpres reported.

Over 11.6 million Romanians participated in the vote, including a record 1.6 million Romanians abroad, according to the Romanian Foreign Ministry. Voter turnout was 64.72%.

The presidential term in Romania is five years and limited to two consecutive terms. The president has semi-executive powers, including command of the armed forces and chairing the Supreme Council of National Defence, which oversees decisions such as military aid. The president also represents Romania at EU and NATO summits, can veto key EU decisions, and appoints the prime minister, top judges, prosecutors, and intelligence chiefs.

Since the fall of communism in 1989, these were Romania’s 10th presidential elections (after the 9th were annulled). In the past 35 years, the country has been led by four regular presidents: Ion Iliescu (two non-consecutive terms), Emil Constantinescu (one term), Traian Basescu (two consecutive terms), and Klaus Iohannis (two consecutive terms). Acting presidents have included Nicolae Vacaroiu (2007), Crin Antonescu (2012), and Ilie Bolojan (2025), who will serve until Romania’s new head of State takes office.