Pro-EU Nicusor Dan wins Romanian presidential race, defeats nationalist George Simion

Nicusor Dan, the pro-European mayor of Bucharest, won Romania’s presidential election on Sunday. Dan secured 54 per cent of the vote, defeating nationalist George Simion, who had led the first round on May 4 with 46 per cent.Dan, 55, campaigned on a message of change and rebuilding, promising to "rebuild" Romania and steer the country on a pro-Western path. Speaking to supporters gathered in a Bucharest park, he called the victory "a moment of hope." “In today’s elections a community of Romanians who want a profound change in Romania won,” said Dan.Romania is one of the European Union’s poorest members, with a large wealth gap. It has been governed by the same political elite since the fall of communism in 1989. The new president holds significant influence over foreign policy, and Dan has openly backed Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict, urging voters to reject Simion’s "isolationist" stance.Dan decided to run for president after last year’s elections were cancelled by Romania’s constitutional court. The vote was stopped because of claims of Russian interference, which Russia denies, and a social media campaign supporting the far-right candidate Simion, who is now banned from politics.EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sent her “warmest congratulations” to Dan after his election victory on her social media platform, X.

Who is Nicusor Dan?Dan was born in Brasov county, Transylvania and showed early promise as a mathematics prodigy, winning several international competitions. He studied maths at the University of Bucharest before moving to France for his PhD. Returning to Romania, he dedicated himself to fighting corruption and illegal urban development.Romania has been ranked as one of the EU’s most corrupt countries by Transparency International and has long struggled with graft. Dan first became a political activist, then shifted to electoral politics. After several attempts, he was elected mayor of Bucharest in 2020 and won re-election in 2024. He left the party he founded, the Save Romania Union (USR), running as an independent. He argued that the party should focus on corruption rather than civil liberties, including LGBTQ rights.Since becoming mayor, Dan has modernised the capital’s heating system and sports facilities and helped pull Bucharest out of bankruptcy.

Known for his reserved nature and careful speech, he has faced criticism for lacking decisiveness and poor communication. “He is more the managerial, administrative type but he is a very decent, honest guy,” said political analyst Sorin Cucerai.What's ahead?When voting ended at 9 pm local time (1800 GMT), official data showed that 64% of eligible voters had taken part. Around 1.64 million Romanians living abroad voted at special polling stations, which was about 660,000 more than in the first round.

In the first round on May 4, the turnout was 53%.The Romanian president serves a five-year term and holds important powers over national security and foreign policy. The winner will also have the task of naming a new prime minister, after Marcel Ciolacu resigned following his coalition’s candidate failing to reach the runoff.