Photo: Facebook.com / Nicușor Dan
Nicușor Dan became the newly elected president of Romania, having won a historic victory in the second round of elections with 53.6% of the vote. His rival, the leader of the far-right AUR party, Gheorghe Simion, conceded defeat after the final results were announced. This was reported by Hotnews.
Victory after a historic breakthrough
Independent candidate Nicuşor Dan received 6,168,642 votes, while Gheorghe Simion received 5,339,053 votes. This means a margin of over 829,000 votes, the result of an unprecedented comeback after the first round, where Dan was significantly behind.
This was one of the most active election campaigns in recent decades, with a high turnout and record-breaking mobilisation of civil society.
Bucharest on its feet: EU flags and chants of “Nikushor!”
After the results were announced, thousands of people took to the streets of the capital, including Regina Elizabeth Boulevard near the candidate’s headquarters. People chanted “Nicuşor!”, waved Romanian and EU flags, and shouted “Russia, don’t forget – Romania is not yours!”.
Around midnight, Nikusor Dan appeared in front of the people on the balcony of the Cişmigiu Hotel and gave an emotional victory speech:
“This is your victory, it is the result of the belief that Romania can change. Tomorrow we are starting a new stage, and we need everyone – from professionals to civil society activists,” he said.
The first congratulations: Zelensky, Macron, Sandu
The newly minted president has already been congratulated by world leaders:
- Emmanuel Macron wrote in Romanian: “Despite numerous attempts at manipulation, Romanians have chosen democracy, the rule of law and Europe.”
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy: “I congratulate Nicușor Dan on his historic victory. Romania and Ukraine will overcome any challenges together.”
- Maya Sandu: “We are together, through thick and thin. Moldova and Romania will continue their common European path”.
