In the Romanian presidential runoff election held on the 18th (local time), pro-EU candidate Nicușor Dan (55) secured the most votes, fending off the pursuit of far-right rivals. Dan, the mayor of Bucharest, received 54.17% of the votes with almost all ballots counted, while George Simion (38) of the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) garnered 45.83%, as officially announced by Romania’s electoral authority (AEP).
Nicușor Dan, with pro-EU and pro-Western leanings, has pledged to further strengthen judicial reforms, maintain military and diplomatic support for Ukraine, and strengthen ties with Western countries. Exit polls conducted after the polls closed also reflected similar results, showing Dan securing 54.9% of the vote while Simion, who was the likely candidate for the far-right, obtained 45.1%.
The election followed a reelection on May 4th after the 2024 election results were invalidated due to poor election management and allegations of foreign interference. No candidate won a majority in the reelection, leading to the runoff. Simion led in the first round on May 4th with 40.96% of the votes, surpassing Dan, who received 20.99%. Simion, branded as a “Trumpist,” campaigned with promises like reducing EU regulations, cutting taxes, and canceling military aid for Ukraine.
Following the exit poll victory, Dan stated, “We must achieve the profound changes in Romanian society that the Romanian people desire,” emphasizing the need for government institutions to function properly, prevent corruption, and work towards economic prosperity for the people, fostering a society of dialogue rather than politics of hate and disdain.
According to Romania’s constitution, the president has the authority over foreign and defense policy and the power to appoint the prime minister. It is expected that President-elect Nicușor Dan will begin consultations to form a new government starting next week.