Nicușor Dan, the centrist and pro-European mayor of Bucharest, has won Romania’s presidential election, defeating right-wing nationalist George Simion with 53.8% of the vote. Simion, who initially led in the first round, conceded after early claims of victory. The election saw a 65% voter turnout, the highest since 1996.
Dan’s victory is seen as a reaffirmation of Romania’s commitment to the European Union (EU) and its support for Ukraine. His campaign focused on anti-corruption and maintaining strong ties with Western allies. Simion, known for his pro-Russian stance and opposition to military aid for Ukraine, had raised concerns among EU leaders.
However, Dan’s win follows in the wake of significant political controversy, as Romania’s Constitutional Court ruled that the previously favored front-runner, conservative Calin Georgescu, was disqualified from running. The court’s March 11 decision annulled the nation’s first round of voting in 2024, which resulted in a significant lead for Georgescu. February 2025 polling leading up to the Romanian court’s ruling showed Georgescu garnering 44.1% of the national vote compared to Dan at 14.2% and Simion with just 0.6%. This has led some observers to view the lates election as being unduly influenced with.
The court sighted around 800 TikTok accounts that supported Georgescu and were allegedly linked to Russia as justification for its annulment of the 2024 election results.
In his victory speech, Dan stated, “Elections are about communities— and in today’s elections a community of Romanians who want a profound change in Romania won.” Dan said during his victory speech. “It’s a moment of hope,” he added. “This is your victory.”
As president, Dan faces challenges in forming a government and addressing issues such as corruption and public disenchantment with traditional institutions. His election is expected to strengthen Romania’s role in the EU and NATO, particularly in supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression.
