Bucharest Mayor Nicos Dan, a centrist, won Romania's presidential election on Sunday over his rival Gheorghe Simion, a right-wing nationalist inspired by the policies of US President Donald Trump, Reuters reports.
Official results from almost all polling stations showed that Dan received about 54 percent of the votes cast by voters in the European Union (EU) and NATO member country of about 19 million people, while Trump supporter Simion received 46 percent.
Dan, 55, a calm mathematician, made a last-minute surge to the top in recent days after trailing Simion, a Eurosceptic who wanted to end military aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia, in a vote that saw the highest voter turnout in a Romanian election in 25 years.
Simeon, who won the most votes in the first round of the election two weeks ago - 41 percent - admitted defeat after earlier saying he had won the election, according to Reuters.
Dan campaigned on promises to fight rampant corruption, maintain support for Ukraine - where Romania has played an important logistical role - and keep the country firmly within the European mainstream.
On Sunday evening in the capital Bucharest, Dan supporters chanted "Russia, don't forget, Romania is not yours."
A staunch supporter of the EU and NATO, Dan said ahead of the election that Romania's support for Ukraine was crucial to its security from the growing Russian threat.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Dan on his "historic victory", writing on social media: "For Ukraine – as a neighbor and friend – it is important to have Romania as a reliable partner."
The vote in Romania took place on the same day as the first round of elections in Poland, in which liberal favorite Rafal Trzaskowski defeated Karol Nawrocki, a candidate supported by the opposition nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party.
Both elections are being closely watched across Europe amid concerns that popular anger at mainstream elites over migration and cost-of-living pressures could bolster support for Trump and undermine unity on the continent over how to deal with Russia.
In Romania, however, the elections showed a negative reaction to politicians who were inspired by Trump's right-wing populist Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement, says Mujtaba Rahman, managing director for Europe at consultancy Eurasia Group.
"This is a really strong result for a pro-European candidate. It's another example of Trump's positive effect on European election cycles where concerns about a MAGA-like political direction have mobilized voters," Rahman said.
Von der Leyen: Romanians chose the promise of an open and prosperous Romania in a strong Europe
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated the victory late last night, welcoming the choice of her fellow citizens in favor of a "strong Europe."
"Romanians went to the polls en masse. They chose the promise of an open and prosperous Romania in a strong Europe," she wrote on the X platform.
Bonus video:
