Sarah Rainsford, Paul Kirby & Olimpia Zagnat reported from Bucharest and London.
Nicusor Dan had to wait until late into the night before he could be certain of victory. The liberal, pro-EU mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, successfully defended his presidency against a strong challenge from a Romanian right-wing nationalist after months of political turbulence.
George Simion, the leader of the far-right AUR party, had initially won a dramatic first-round victory earlier in the month. However, Nicusor Dan ultimately emerged victorious, securing 54% of the vote in Romania, despite Simion’s success in the diaspora.
After confirming his win, Dan emphasized the importance of unity among Romanians, regardless of their political affiliations. More than 11.6 million Romanians participated in the run-off election, with Dan garnering support from over six million voters.
Following his late-night victory, Dan celebrated with his supporters in Bucharest, who expressed their joy and hope for a better future under his leadership. The election outcome signaled a desire for change and progress in Romania.
While Simion initially contested the results, he later conceded defeat in the early hours of Monday. The election campaign highlighted divisions within Romanian society, with Simion’s far-right stance contrasting with Dan’s pro-EU and anti-corruption platform.
Despite the challenges and uncertainties, Nicusor Dan’s supporters remained steadfast in their belief in his vision for Romania. The election outcome reflected a desire for stability, progress, and unity in the country. Sarah Rainsford, Paul Kirby & Olimpia Zagnat En la vecina Moldavia, el 87% de los rumanos respaldaron al alcalde de Bucarest.
Los presidentes de Moldavia y Ucrania lo felicitaron por su victoria.
“Moldavia y Rumania están juntas, apoyándose mutuamente y trabajando codo a codo por un futuro pacífico, democrático y europeo para todos nuestros ciudadanos”, dijo Maia Sandu.
“Para Ucrania, como vecino y amigo, es importante tener a Rumania como un socio confiable”, dijo Volodymyr Zelensky en Kiev.
La presidenta de la Comisión Europea, Ursula von der Leyen, dijo en las redes sociales que los rumanos habían salido en gran número y habían “elegido la promesa de una Rumania abierta y próspera en una Europa fuerte”.
Al final, este fue un “No” enfático a un nacionalista acérrimo con una visión aislacionista para Rumania, un provocador conocido y un hombre cuyo compromiso con la membresía de la UE y con los valores fundamentales del bloque no estaba claro.
A pesar de su sólido desempeño en la primera ronda, aquellos rumanos que se preocupaban por lo que representaba parecen haberse unido para bloquearlo del poder.
Pero Simion sí ganó un trozo significativo de votos, y su mensaje seguirá resonando con muchos.