Romania election: Pro-EU centrist Nicusor Dan wins runoff

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has congratulated Nicusor Dan on his "historic victory" in Romania's presidential election.

"For Ukraine — as a neighbor and friend — it is important to have Romania as a reliable partner," Zelenskyy posted on X. "And we are confident we will. By working together, we can strengthen both our countries and our Europe."

Dan, 55, is staunchly in favor of Romania's membership in the European Union and NATO, saying Bucharest's support for Kyiv is vital for its own security against a growing Russian threat.

Dan's presidential runoff opponent was George Simion, a 38-year-old nationalist who opposed military aid to Ukraine.

"We will always have great respect for Romania and its people, especially given the support we received during the most difficult period in our history," Zelenskyy wrote on X. "Dear Romanians, you can count on Ukraine as a good neighbor and partner. We can overcome any challenge if we are united and strong. I look forward to further developing the strategic partnership between our friendly nations for the sake of their stability, security, and prosperity."

Hard-right candidate George Simion has conceded defeat to his pro-EU rival Nicusor Dan.

"I would like to congratulate my opponent, Nicusor Dan," Simion said in a video published on Facebook.

"He won the election and that was the will of the Romanian people."

He promised to "continue our fight" for Romania and to put its 19 million people "first".

Simion had previously contested exit polls that showed that Dan had won the election, claiming that he had secured 400,000 more votes than his centrist rival.

Simion, who leads the hard-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians party, has criticized what he described as the EU's "absurd policies" and proposed cutting military aid for Ukraine.

Romania's election winner, Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan, has said he hopes to form a coalition government that will include all four centrist, pro-European parties in parliament.

In remarks to Romanian TV channel Digi24, Dan said he expects coalition formation talks with the Social Democratic Party (PSD), National Liberal Party (PNL), Save Romania Union (USR) and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR) to last a few weeks.

He told Digi24 that he will reach out to the four parliamentary groups for talks as early as Monday.

After a tense vote count on Sunday night, Dan, an independent who is a staunch supporter of the European Union and NATO, defeated the far-right George Simion, who had prevailed in the first round held on May 4. 

Dan also addressed Simion's supporters, inviting them "to build a good Romania."

The independent candidate, who campaigned on a slogan of change and has vowed to "rebuild" the country, also sympathized with Simion's supporters' frustrations, saying they would remain dissatisfied "until the state works for its citizens."

"A fundamental change is needed in the way political parties function," Dan said.

Romania's centrist Nicusor Dan, the mayor of Bucharest, has won Sunday's presidential election run-off.

Near complete results showed Dan winning 54%, while his opponent, the hard-right Donald Trump admirer George Simion won 46%.

Despite the results, Simion has said his Alliance for the Union of Romanians were the "clear winners."

"We claim this victory on behalf of the Romanian people," Simion told his supporters in Bucharest.

Ahead of the election, Simion had made claims, without providing evidence, of electoral fraud.

Dan, an independent who favors closer ties with Europe, had campaigned for an "honest" Romania.

Romania's centrist presidential candidate Nicusor Dan, who is neck and neck with hard-right candidate George Simion according to early results, praised Romania's strength but warned that tough economic times lay ahead.

Exit polls after the second round of the presidential election show Dan leading Simion, a right-wing populist and supporter of US President Donald Trump.

Dan told reporters after polls had closed on Sunday evening that "a community of Romanians has won, a community that wants a profound change in Romania."

"When Romania goes through difficult times, let us remember the strength of this Romanian society," he said.

"There will be a difficult period ahead, necessary for economic rebalancing to lay the foundations of a healthy society. Please have hope and patience," Dan added.

Simion, however, contested the exit polls, saying he had secured 400,000 more votes than his centrist rival.

Exit polls favored Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan to win Sunday's presidential runoff.

The pro-EU centrist was ahead with 54.9%, exit polls suggested, whereas his hard-right rival George Simion was on 45.1%.

Official results are expected later on Sunday or in the early hours of Monday.

Polls have closed in the runoff round of Romania's presidential election, where  hard-right candidate George Simion is facing off against pro-EU Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan.

France has denied what officials called "completely unfounded allegations" regarding interference in Romania's presidential election.

"France categorically rejects these allegations and calls on everyone to exercise responsibility and respect for Romanian democracy," the French Foreign Ministry wrote on X, in reference to a statement by Telegram founder Pavel Durov, claiming that a Western European country he did not name, but hinted was France, had asked the platform to "silence conservative voices."

The French Foreign Ministry noted that the first round of elections in December was annulled amid reports of electoral violations and interference by Russia. 

"In this context, the recent accusations against France are merely a diversionary maneuver from the real threats of interference targeting Romania," the ministry said.

The ministry also stressed France's support for Romania in its EU accession in 2007, as well as militarily.  

"Lying about France, insulting it, is breaking this history," the ministry posted.

Romania said it was debunking "a viral campaign of fake news" on social media platforms including Telegram during the presidential election.

"During Romania’s ongoing presidential elections yet again we see the hallmarks of Russian interference," the Foreign Ministry spokesman said in a statement on X, adding that a viral campaign "is aimed to influence the electoral process."

"This was expected and authorities debunked the fake news."

The statement followed a post by Telegram founder Pavel Durov claiming that a Western European nation he did not name (but suggested was France) had asked the platform to "silence conservative voices" in Romania.

Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messaging app, claimed on Sunday that the platform was approached by a Western European government, asking it "to silence conservative voices in Romania ahead of today’s presidential elections."

Though he did not name the government, he posted the emoji of a baguette.

"I flatly refused," Durov wrote in a post on the platform. "Telegram will not restrict the freedoms of Romanian users or block their political channels."

The Telegram founder argued that democracy cannot be defended by "destroying" it. 

"You can’t 'fight election interference' by interfering with elections," Durov wrote. "You either have freedom of speech and fair elections — or you don’t."

A first round of the Romanian presidential election, held last year, was annulled following reports of electoral violations and interference by Russia. The Kremlin denies the accusations.

The Russian-born, Dubai-based Durov was detained in France last year amid an investigation into crimes related to child pornography, drug trafficking and fraudulent transactions associated with Telegram.

Durov returned to Dubai in March. He denies any wrongdoing.

Official electoral data has shown that more than 4.6 million people — 25% of eligible voters — had cast their ballot by noon (0900 UTC).

Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. local time and were to close at 9 p.m.

More the 750,000 Romanians living abroad have also voted since special polling stations outside the country opened on Friday.

The previous presidential election, held in November, saw far-right, pro-Russia political outsider Calin Georgescu surprisingly come out on top in the first round.

The vote was later annulled by Romania's constitutional court, which found irregularities in the financing and organization of the leading campaign.

Alleged electoral violations included the activation of thousands of previously inactive social media accounts to spread pro-Georgescu messaging as part of an "aggressive Russian hybrid attack," which Moscow denies.

Romanian public prosecutors in February opened an investigation into Georgescu, who had been banned from standing again in May's rerun. 

George Simion, representing the hard-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), has counted on support from disgruntled Georgescu voters.

Many are concerned not only by high inflation and the increasing cost of living in the EU country but are now also influenced by conspiracy theories regarding the cancellation of the original vote. 

Simion has described his AUR party, which promotes "family, nation, faith and freedom," as "perfectly aligned with the MAGA [President Donald Trump's 'Make America Great Again'] movement" in the US and has not ruled out appointing Georgescu as prime minister should he win.

Simion's challenger is incumbent Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, a 55-year-old mathematician and former anti-corruption activist who founded the Save Romania Union party (USR) in 2016. He is running on a pro-EU "Honest Romania" platform.

Acknowledging the issues facing Romanians, he said the Eastern European country needs a president "who has the will and the ability to reform the system."

Polls opened for the second round of the Romanian presidential election, with a high voter turnout expected.

About 53% of the population, or 9.5 million people, voted in the first round, on May 4,. Hard-right candidate George Simion topped the first round, gaining 41% of the vote. 

He is now facing off against pro-EU Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan, who came second in the May 4 vote.

Pro-EU Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu resigned following the first round, saying his ruling coalition had "no legitimacy" after populist Simion secured over 40% of the vote.

Romanians are casting their ballots on Sunday to elect a new president in a tense runoff between a hard-right nationalist and a pro-EU centrist. 

The race pits George Simion, the 38-year-old leader of the hard-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians, or AUR, against Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan.

The vote comes months after the cancellation of the previous election — over allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference — plunged Romania into its worst political crisis in decades.

DW will bring you the latest news and analysis regarding the election. Stay tuned for more.