Romanian centrist candidate Nicusor Dan has emerged victorious in the country’s presidential election, defeating hard-right nationalist George Simion. With nearly 5.83 million votes, Dan secured an insurmountable lead over his rival, leaving Simion with a significantly lower number of votes.
The outcome marks a significant shift in Romania’s politics as voters sought to distance themselves from far-right populism and emphasize their commitment to the European Union (EU) and NATO. Dan campaigned on a promise to tackle corruption and keep Romania firmly within the EU mainstream.
Despite earlier exit polls indicating a tight race, Dan ultimately secured more than 99% of the total votes counted. Simion rejected the exit poll, claiming that he had received an additional 400,000 votes, but his count was not enough to overtake Dan’s lead.
Turnout for the rerun election was higher than expected and played a crucial role in determining the outcome. The election marked a significant moment in Romania’s history as it sought to move away from its tumultuous past and towards a more stable future.
The European Union and other international bodies have welcomed the result, seeing it as a positive step towards stability and democracy in the region. As such, it is clear that Nicusor Dan will play a key role in shaping Romania’s relationship with Europe and its stance on global issues in the coming years.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/18/pro-eu-nicusor-dan-on-course-to-beat-hard-right-rival-in-romania-election