On Sunday evening, Romania made a decisive choice that may shape the country’s direction for years to come. In a tense presidential race that gripped the nation for more than six months, liberal mayor of Bucharest, Nicușor Dan, emerged victorious over the far-right nationalist George Simion. In the runoff election, Dan secured 53.7% of the vote against Simion’s 46.3% — a margin of nearly one million votes.
Dan’s win was nothing short of a political comeback. Just two weeks earlier, in the first round of voting, he had earned only half as many votes as Simion. The 38-year-old leader of the ultranationalist AUR party was widely seen as the frontrunner, campaigning with the confidence of a likely winner. However, widespread mobilization among voters — alarmed by the possibility of Romania turning away from its Western path — ultimately tipped the scales.
A Choice Between East and West
As noted by the Swiss newspaper Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ), Romanians were voting not just for individuals, but for the future direction of their country. Nicușor Dan stands for a Romania deeply integrated with the European Union and NATO, and committed to supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia. With its strategic location on the Black Sea and shared border with Ukraine, Romania — the EU’s sixth most populous country — holds immense geopolitical value.
On election night, Dan’s supporters gathered in Bucharest, chanting: “Russia, don’t forget: Romania is not yours!” It was a clear declaration of Dan’s foreign policy stance. A 55-year-old mathematician with a doctorate from Paris, Dan is known for his pro-European values and has pledged to combat corruption and reinforce the rule of law.
Simion, in contrast, while calling Russia an “enemy,” opposes any assistance to Kyiv and promotes a confrontational line toward Brussels. In the EU, he aligns with the likes of Viktor Orbán (Hungary), Robert Fico (Slovakia), and Poland’s former ruling party Law and Justice. According to NZZ, this election was seen by many as a referendum on Romania’s geopolitical orientation.
Historic Turnout and a Defeat for Nationalism
The stakes were high — and so was voter turnout. At 65%, participation reached its highest point in three decades. As NZZ observes, Romanians, with their Latin heritage and cultural ties to Western Europe, have consistently embraced integration with the West since the fall of communism.
Simion’s worst results came from the country’s Hungarian minority, who had little reason to support a hardline nationalist. Viktor Orbán, who initially endorsed Simion, was eventually pressured by Romania’s Hungarian minority party — whose interests he claims to champion — to withdraw his support.
Simion also fumbled in the media landscape. He refused to participate in televised debates, citing “mainstream media bias,” and instead focused on Romania’s large diaspora, which had backed him in the first round. But this strategy backfired. His impulsive style stood in stark contrast to Dan’s calm, rational tone — a contrast that won over many undecided voters.
Political Turmoil and Shadows of Interference
This election unfolded in the shadow of political drama. In November, the first round of elections had produced a shocking result: an unexpected win by another ultranationalist, Călin Georgescu. But Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled the result, citing alleged Russian interference. Georgescu was later barred from running again, accused of subversive activities — though no solid evidence was ever made public.
As NZZ notes, this murky episode deepened public distrust toward the political system. In Romania, this system — a network of entrenched party elites, security agencies, and a politicized judiciary — is simply referred to as “the System.” Simion positioned himself as Georgescu’s heir and claimed to be the only candidate fighting against it.
Ironically, Dan also stands outside traditional power structures. Once a member of the reformist liberal party USR, a favorite among Romania’s urban, pro-Western middle class, Dan now runs as an independent. This helped him appeal not only to moderates, but also to disillusioned voters tired of the status quo.
Acknowledging Defeat — and the Challenges Ahead
In the early hours of Monday, George Simion conceded defeat. In a video message, he congratulated his opponent and stated there were no signs of widespread electoral fraud. “The sovereignist camp lost a battle but will not give up the fight,” he declared. Just hours earlier, Simion had prematurely declared victory on social media, writing “I am the new President of Romania” — accompanied by the flag of Chad, which closely resembles Romania’s tricolor, drawing widespread ridicule.
With Dan’s win now official, the hard part begins. The new president must form a functioning government — a tough task given that the previous ruling coalition collapsed after its candidate’s disastrous showing in the first round. In his victory speech, Dan promised to fight corruption, strengthen the rule of law, and restore unity: “It is our duty to fight for one Romania, not two.”
This article was prepared based on materials published by Neue Zürcher Zeitung. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
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