In a closely watched election, Romania has voted in favor of stability and continued European integration by electing centrist candidate Nicușor Dan as its next president. His victory, with 54% of the vote, comes as a relief to EU leaders and financial markets, who were increasingly anxious about the rise of eurosceptic, hard-right candidate George Simion.
Dan, a 55-year-old mathematician and current mayor of Bucharest, ran on a campaign of anti-corruption, strong support for Ukraine, and a commitment to keeping Romania firmly rooted in the European Union. His calm and methodical leadership style stood in stark contrast to his rival, Simion, a vocal admirer of Donald Trump and critic of EU policies, who had promised to halt military aid to Ukraine and steer Romania in a more nationalist direction.
The presidential race had already been controversial. The initial vote was cancelled due to alleged Russian interference, with far-right frontrunner Călin Georgescu banned from running again. This heightened the stakes of the second round, making Sunday’s outcome especially significant.
The markets responded positively to the result. Romania’s currency, the leu, jumped over 1% after weeks of instability, and euro-denominated bonds saw renewed investor confidence. The economic boost highlights the global financial community’s preference for Dan’s pro-EU stance.
European leaders wasted no time expressing their support. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the Romanian people for choosing “an open, prosperous Romania in a strong Europe.” European Council President Antonio Costa echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that Dan’s journey from city mayor to the European Council symbolizes the country’s commitment to the European project.
Neighboring Moldova also welcomed the result. President Maia Sandu described it as “a step forward for democratic values and our shared European path.” Analysts had warned that a win for Simion could have pushed Romania into isolation and disrupted NATO unity along its eastern flank.
Dan’s election was also celebrated by other European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Macron, speaking in Romanian, declared, “Romanians tonight chose democracy, the rule of law, and the European Union.”
The shadow of foreign influence wasn’t absent from the post-election conversation. Telegram founder Pavel Durov accused France’s foreign intelligence agency of trying to pressure him into banning Romanian conservative voices from the platform. The agency denied the claim, but the incident fueled further debate about foreign involvement in national politics.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov criticized the election process, labeling it “strange” and accusing Western countries of interfering in Romania’s internal affairs — an ironic twist given Moscow was previously accused of election meddling.
Political analyst Radu Magdin noted that Dan’s composed demeanor helped reassure voters. “He’ll work with the Trump camp where necessary but remain deeply aligned with European values,” Magdin said.
As Romania looks to the future, Dan’s presidency is expected to maintain a careful balance — protecting democratic institutions at home while continuing to support Ukraine and deepen ties with the EU. For now, both Romanians and Europe are breathing a collective sigh of relief.
