In a decisive moment for the country’s democratic future, Romanians have sent a powerful message by electing the pro-European candidate Nicușor Dan as President. Dan secured victory over his far-right opponent, George Simion, by a margin of approximately 900,000 votes in the runoff election held this Sunday.
The win marks a dramatic political comeback for the Mayor of Bucharest, who overcame an unprecedented first-round deficit. After the initial vote, Simion — known for his pro-Russian and anti-European rhetoric — was leading by nearly 1.9 million votes, the largest gap recorded in Romania’s post-communist electoral history.
Celebrations in the Capital
Thousands of citizens poured into the center of Bucharest on Sunday night, gathering near Cișmigiu Park to celebrate the historic win. The crowd waved Romanian and European Union flags, embraced one another, and chanted the name of the newly elected president. The atmosphere echoed the jubilation last seen in the capital after Traian Băsescu’s victory in the 2024 presidential elections.
Nicușor Dan claimed overwhelming support in several key regions, including Harghita (90.13%), Covasna (84%), Cluj (69%), Mureș (66%), Satu Mare and Bihor (63% each), and Brașov (62%). Meanwhile, George Simion only managed to surpass the 60% threshold in Gorj County.
Out of a total of 17,988,218 people over 18 who were eligible to vote, 11,641,866 cast their vote (64,72%), with 7,334,720 voting in urban areas and 4,307,146 in rural areas. A total of 1.645.458 Romanians from Diaspora voted in other countries.
Who is Romania’s New President?
Nicușor Dan is currently serving his second term as Mayor of Bucharest and is widely recognized as one of the leading figures in Romania’s civic and political landscape. His career bridges academic excellence, grassroots activism, and institutional reform.
A mathematics prodigy, Dan won two gold medals at the International Mathematical Olympiad in 1987 and 1988. He continued his academic journey in France, earning a master’s degree from Université Paris 11 and a PhD from Université Paris 13 in 1998.
In 2008, he founded the “Save Bucharest” NGO (Asociația Salvați Bucureștiul), which played a crucial role in halting illegal urban development projects and advocating for lawful urban planning. His transition to politics began in 2015 with the launch of the Save Bucharest Union (USB), a local platform that achieved significant results in the 2016 local elections. The movement later evolved into a national political party, the Save Romania Union (USR).
As Mayor of Bucharest, Dan made a series of administrative reforms, including balancing the city’s budget, dismantling inefficient municipal companies, and investing in critical infrastructure. Among his key achievements are the rehabilitation of over 300 kilometers of the city’s primary heating network and the modernization of the public transport fleet.
