BUCHAREST, Romania — Romania’s centrist Bucharest mayor, Nicusor Dan, won the country’s presidential election on Sunday in a shock upset over a hard-right, nationalist rival who had pledged to put Romania on a path inspired by U.S. President Donald Trump’s politics.
Official results from nearly all voting stations showed Dan garnering about 54% of ballots cast by voters in the E.U. and NATO member country of about 19 million people, while Trump supporter George Simion was at 46%.
Dan, 55, a soft-spoken mathematician, made a last-minute dash to the top in recent days after weeks of trailing Simion, a eurosceptic wanting to end military aid for Ukraine in its war with Russia. The election drew the highest percentage of voter turnout in a Romanian election in 25 years.
Simion, who was the top vote-getter in the first round of the election two weeks ago with 41% of ballots cast, conceded after earlier saying he won the election.
Dan had campaigned on a pledge to fight rampant corruption, to maintain support for Ukraine — where Romania has played an important logistic role — and to keep the country firmly within the European mainstream.
On Sunday evening in the capital, Bucharest, Dan supporters chanted “Russia, don’t forget, Romania isn’t yours.” Staunchly pro-E.U. and NATO, Dan said in the run-up to the election that Romania’s support for Ukraine was crucial for its own security against a growing Russian threat.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Dan on his “historic victory,” writing on social media: “For Ukraine — as a neighbor and friend — it is important to have Romania as a reliable partner.”
The voting in Romania took place on the same day as the first round of a Polish election in which a liberal frontrunner, Rafal Trzaskowski, edged ahead of Karol Nawrocki, the candidate backed by the opposition nationalist Law and Justice party.
Both elections are being closely watched across Europe amid concern that popular anger with mainstream elites over migration and cost of living pressures could bolster support for Trump and erode unity on the continent over how to deal with Russia.
In Romania, however, the election showed backlash against politicians taking inspiration from right-wing populist Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement, according to Mujtaba Rahman, managing director for Europe at the consulting firm Eurasia Group.
“This is a really strong result for the pro-European candidate,” Rahman said.
“It’s another example of the positive Trump effect on European election cycles where concerns about the political and policy direction moving in a MAGA-like way have mobilized voters.”
Dan acknowledged that he faces a tough challenge in finding a prime minister to negotiate a majority in Parliament to reduce Romania’s budget deficit — the largest in the E.U. — as well as to reassure investors and try to avoid a credit rating downgrade.
“There will be a difficult period ahead, necessary for economic rebalancing to lay the foundations of a healthy society. Please have hope and patience,” Dan told supporters after exit polls were published showing him ahead.
Dan later said talks could take a few weeks.
The election took place nearly six months after the initial ballot was canceled because of alleged Russian interference — denied by Moscow — in favor of far-right frontrunner Calin Georgescu, who was barred from standing again.
Romania looked poised to swing toward Russia had Georgescu won, and Simion built a campaign to benefit from his support, signaling he would nominate him as prime minister if he emerged victorious.
Speaking shortly after voting ended, Simion said his election was “clear.”
“I won!!! I am the new President of Romania and I am giving back the power to the Romanians!” Simion said on Facebook. But Simion conceded the election later in the evening.
A crowd of Dan’s supporters celebrated his victory outside his campaign headquarters in downtown Bucharest.
“These elections are really important for the European future,” said Ilinca Sipoteanu, 19. “This is very good for democracy and for the younger generations ... and also for our parents and grandparents that fought the system in 1989.”
Romania’s communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was overthrown in 1989.
