Bucharest's pro-European mayor, Nicusor Dan, has won the second round of Romania's presidential elections, according to near-final results published on Sunday evening.
George Simion, the nationalist presidential candidate in Romania who initially refused to concede defeat, finally congratulated his pro-European rival Nicusor Dan last night.
With over 90% of the votes counted, the 55-year-old centrist politician secured nearly 54% of the vote, while his opponent, 38-year-old populist Simion from the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), garnered 46%.
Addressing his supporters after leading in exit polls, Dan urged, "A challenging period lies ahead, necessary to restore economic balance and lay the foundation for a healthy society. Please have hope and patience." He emphasised his commitment to honesty, integrity, and pro-Western stability.
Conversely, Simion, an admirer of US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, is critical of Brussels and opposes aid to Ukraine.
Contrary to forecasts and before final results, Simion prematurely declared victory, stating, "We are the clear winners of this election. We claim this victory on behalf of the Romanian people," in a live television broadcast in Bucharest. He later conceded, acknowledging in a Facebook video, "He (Dan) has won the election, the Romanian people have expressed their will," but vowed to "continue the fight."
In the first round, Simion emerged as the leading candidate with over 40% of the vote, while Dan received just under 21%. As no candidate achieved an outright majority, a second round was held.
Simion acknowledged Dan's victory in a video posted on Facebook, saying, "He has won the elections; the Romanian people have expressed their will." Despite conceding, Simion vowed to continue "the fight."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen extended her “warmest congratulations” to Nicusor Dan, the independent mayor of Bucharest, who won the second round of the Romanian presidential election on Sunday.
“The Romanian people turned out in large numbers to vote. They chose a promise of an open, prosperous Romania within a strong Europe,” she wrote on X on Sunday evening.
With more than 90 percent of the ballots counted, the 55-year-old centrist Dan secured nearly 54 percent of the votes.
His opponent, 38-year-old populist George Simion of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), garnered 46 percent.
