Nicusor Dan, the Mayor of Bucharest and an independent candidate, has won Romania’s presidential runoff election, defeating his nationalist rival George Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR). According to complete official results from the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP), Dan secured 53.60 percent of the vote, while Simion received 46.40 percent, with all ballots counted.
Dan, known for his pro-EU stance and strong commitment to Western democratic values, addressed supporters after the victory, emphasizing the collective nature of the win. “Elections are not about politicians but about communities,” Dan said. “In Sunday’s vote, a community of Romanians has won, a community that wants profound change in Romania.” “When Romania goes through difficult times, let us remember the strength of this Romanian society,” he said. “There is also a community that lost today’s elections. A community that is rightly outraged by the way politics has been conducted in Romania up to now.”
Born in Făgăraș, Brașov County, in 1969, Dan pursued mathematics at the University of Bucharest before moving to France, where he earned a master’s degree from the École normale supérieure and a PhD from Paris 13 University. In 2015, he founded the Save Bucharest Union, a civic movement focused on anti-corruption and heritage preservation. This platform launched his political career, leading to the co-founding of the Save Romania Union (USR) in 2016. Dan left the party in 2017 over ideological differences, preferring a more centrist approach.
Dan, who lives with his partner Mirabela Grădinaru and their two children, will begin consultations next week to form a new government. Romania’s president serves a five-year term with significant powers in national security and foreign policy.