Centrist Wins Romania’s High-Stakes Presidential Runoff

Centrist candidate Nicuşor Dan won Romania’s presidential runoff, defeating his far-right rival in a closely watched race that raised questions about the country’s political trajectory as a member of both NATO and the European Union, the Guardian reported Monday. 

Results released Monday showed Dan securing nearly 54 percent of the vote, while his opponent, George Simion, won about 46 percent. Voter turnout reached nearly 65 percent – the highest for a Romanian election in 25 years. 

Dan, the mayor of Bucharest since 2020, thanked his supporters, calling the result “a victory of thousands and thousands of people who … believe that Romania can change in the right direction.” 

A vocal supporter of EU and NATO membership, Dan ran on a platform of fighting corruption, maintaining support for Ukraine, and keeping Romania aligned with the West. 

In contrast, Simion – a pro-Kremlin, Eurosceptic politician – vowed to end military aid to Ukraine and shake up Romania’s political establishment, Al Jazeera noted. 

Simion briefly declared himself president before conceding to Dan. He later told supporters he would “continue the fight for freedom and our great values along with other patriots, sovereigntists, and conservatives all over the world.” 

The result surprised many after Simion led the first round of elections earlier this month, prompting the collapse of Romania’s ruling coalition. 

Political analysts said the runoff turnout and result underscored the importance of the vote: While many voters had grown disillusioned with mainstream parties, a significant bloc remained firmly pro-European and anti-Russian. 

The May election, meanwhile, followed one in November, in which far-right candidate Călin Georgescu won a shock victory in the first round. Romania’s constitutional court invalidated the results afterward amid evidence of campaign finance violations and Russian interference.  

Georgescu was banned from reentering the race and is now under investigation on multiple charges, including failing to report his campaign spending. 

Elsewhere in Europe, Poland on Sunday also held a presidential election, the Associated Press wrote. 

Liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski led the race, followed closely by conservative historian Karol Nawrocki. They will compete in a June 1 runoff.  

While Trzaskowski – a pro-EU ally of Prime Minister Donald Tusk – promised to lower political tensions and back judicial reforms, Nawrocki has promised to cut aid to Ukraine.