19.05.2025 15:00
In Romania, the presidential election was won by the EU and NATO-supporting candidate Nicusor Dan with 54.09% of the votes. In the first round of the election held two weeks ago, Dan received around 20% of the votes. Following the narrow defeat of former Senator Crin Antonescu, who was supported by three parties in the ruling coalition, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu resigned.
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In the second round of the presidential elections held in Romania, Nicusor Dan, the Mayor of Bucharest, who drew attention with his pro-EU and NATO policies, won with 54.09% of the votes. The vote share of George Simion, the leader of the far-right Alliance of Romanian Patriots, remained at 45.91%. According to the data from the Romanian Permanent Election Authority, the voter turnout for the election, in which approximately 18 million citizens had the right to vote, was 64.72%.
"ROMANIAN CITIZENS WANTING ROOTED CHANGE HAVE WON"
During the election campaign, 55-year-old Dan promised to fight corruption and continue military support for Ukraine, vowing to pursue a policy in line with European Union policies. The centrist politician, who participated in the election as an independent candidate, stated in a media interview after the polls closed that the elections were "won by Romanian citizens wanting rooted change."
"IT WILL BE A CHALLENGING PERIOD TO REESTABLISH ECONOMIC BALANCE"
In his speech, Dan said, "We have a challenging period ahead to reestablish economic balance. This is essential to lay the foundations of a healthy society. Please remain hopeful and keep your patience." After the election results began to become clear, many citizens started to gather in front of the election center of Mayor Nicusor Dan in the capital Bucharest. The crowd, carrying EU and Romanian flags, chanted "Nicusor."
THE ELECTIONS WERE CLOSELY MONITORED IN EUROPE
Nicusor Dan's victory is seen as a positive development for pro-EU politicians across Europe and Brussels. The victory of Simion, a candidate skeptical of the EU and opposed to military aid to Ukraine, would have meant the inclusion of another country in the anti-Brussels bloc formed by Hungary and Slovakia within the EU.
DAN HAD REMAINED AT 20% IN THE FIRST ROUND
Simion had placed first in the first round of the election held two weeks ago with approximately 40% of the votes. In the first round held on May 4, Mayor Nicusor Dan's vote share was around 20%.
ANTONESCU LOST, PRIME MINISTER RESIGNED
Former Senator Crin Antonescu, supported by three parties in the ruling coalition, placed third by a narrow margin and lost the election. Following this, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu resigned, and the pro-Western coalition government in the country collapsed.
A NEW PRIME MINISTER CANDIDATE WILL NEED TO BE DETERMINED
After Nicusor Dan takes office as president, he will need to determine a prime minister candidate and pave the way for the establishment of a new government. The new government will have critical tasks such as correcting the financial balance in Romania, which has the largest budget deficit in the European Union, and creating a secure environment by ending uncertainty.
KREMLIN: THE ELECTION IN ROMANIA IS STRANGE
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov evaluated the second round of the presidential election in Romania. Peskov suggested that the election was "strange," stating, "We know the story of a candidate who had a chance to win but was unjustly removed from the race." Peskov said that European countries such as France, England, and Germany interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.
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