What a relief! The hard-right nationalist candidate lost big time in Romania's Presidential Race

May 18, 2025, 7:17 PM ET

Source: The Associated Press

Nicusor Dan, the pro-European Union candidate, has emerged victorious in Romania's closely watched presidential runoff against a hard-right nationalist, based on nearly complete electoral data. High voter turnout played a crucial role in this tense election, seen as a pivotal geopolitical choice between East and West.

The race featured George Simion, leader of the hard-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), against Dan, the incumbent mayor of Bucharest. This election followed the cancellation of a previous vote, which had plunged Romania into its most significant political crisis in decades.

With 10.7 million of 11.6 million votes counted, Dan led with 54.19%, while Simion trailed at 45.81%. In the first round on May 4, Simion had nearly double the votes of Dan, with many surveys predicting his win.

Dan's victory appears to reflect a rejection of Simion's skeptical stance toward the EU, which Romania joined in 2007. Dan garnered nearly 900,000 additional votes in the final round.

Thousands gathered outside Dan's headquarters in Bucharest, chanting "Nicusor!" and cheering as his lead increased with each new result.

High Voter Turnout

Voting closed at 9 p.m. local time, showing a 64% turnout, with approximately 1.64 million Romanians abroad participating—660,000 more than in the first round. The first round had a turnout of 53%.

Dan emphasized that the elections represent communities rather than politicians, stating, "A community of Romanians has won, a community that wants profound change in Romania."

After polls closed, Dan addressed his supporters from the balcony of his headquarters, receiving an enthusiastic response.

Political Landscape Shifts

Romania's political environment shifted dramatically last year when a top court annulled the previous election due to allegations of electoral violations and foreign interference, which Russia denied.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Dan, noting the significant voter turnout and the choice for an open, prosperous Romania within a strong Europe.

Dan, a mathematician and civic activist, founded the reformist Save Romania Union party but ran independently this time on a pro-EU platform, reaffirming Western ties and support for Ukraine.

Simion, despite losing, expressed satisfaction with the election's conduct and called for vigilance against potential fraud, having previously claimed a "landslide victory" if the election was fair.

The Road Ahead

The new president will hold significant powers in national security and foreign policy, including nominating a new prime minister after Marcel Ciolacu's resignation following his coalition's failure.

Simion's AUR party, which champions "family, nation, faith, and freedom," has become the second-largest party in the Romanian legislature since its rise in the 2020 parliamentary elections. As Romania faces ongoing challenges, the nation remains divided, with a substantial portion of voters dissatisfied with the current trajectory.