Romania’s centrist Bucharest mayor, Nicusor Dan, won the country’s presidential election on Sunday in a shock upset over a hard-right, nationalist rival inspired by Donald Trump.
Official results from nearly all voting stations showed Mr Dan garnering about 54% of ballots cast by voters in the EU and NATO member country of about 19 million people, while Trump supporter George Simion was at 46%.
Mr Dan, 55, a soft-spoken mathematician, made a last-minute dash to the top in recent days after weeks of trailing Simion, a eurosceptic wanting to end military aid for Ukraine in its war with Russia. The election drew the highest percentage of voter turnout in a Romanian election in 25 years.
Mr Simion, who was the top vote winner in the first round of the election two weeks ago with 41% of ballots cast, conceded after earlier saying he won the election.
Mr Dan had campaigned on a pledge to fight rampant corruption, to maintain support for Ukraine - where Romania has played an important logistic role - and to keep the country firmly within the European mainstream.
On Sunday evening in the capital Bucharest, Dan supporters chanted “Russia, don’t forget, Romania isn’t yours.” Staunchly pro-EU and NATO, Mr Dan said in the run-up to the election that Romania’s support for Ukraine was crucial for its own security against a growing Russian threat.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Mr Dan on his “historic victory,” writing on social media: “For Ukraine - as a neighbour and friend - it is important to have Romania as a reliable partner.”
Some 269,534 Romanians living in London and the rest of the UK also voted in the elections.
Mr Simion received 58.46% of the vote share in the UK, according to Romanian election data.
Some 156,701 Romanians living in Britain voted for the right-wing leader, while 111,343 voted for Mr Dan.
Roughly 176,000 Romanians live in London, according to the most recent census data.
The voting in Romania took place on the same day as the first round of a Polish election in which a liberal frontrunner, Rafal Trzaskowski edged ahead of Karol Nawrocki, the candidate backed by the opposition nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party.
Both elections are being closely watched across Europe amid concern that popular anger with mainstream elites over migration and cost of living pressures could bolster support for Trump and erode unity on the continent over how to deal with Russia.
In Romania, however, the election showed backlash against politicians taking inspiration from right-wing populist Trump’s Make American Great Again (MAGA) movement, according to Mujtaba Rahman, managing director for Europe at consultancy Eurasia Group.
“This is a really strong result for the pro-European candidate,” Mr Rahman said.
“It’s another example of the positive Trump effect on European election cycles where concerns about the political and policy direction moving in a MAGA-like way have mobilised voters.”
Mr Dan acknowledged that he faces a tough challenge in finding a prime minister to negotiate a majority in parliament to reduce Romania’s budget deficit - the largest in the EU - as well as to reassure investors and try to avoid a credit rating downgrade.
“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 told supporters after exit polls were published showing him ahead.
Mr Dan later said talks could take a few weeks.
The election took place nearly six months after the initial ballot was cancelled because of alleged Russian interference - denied by Moscow - in favour of far-right frontrunner Calin Georgescu, who was banned from standing again.
Romania looked poised to swing towards Russia had Mr Georgescu won, and Mr Simion built a campaign to benefit from his support, signalling he would nominate him as prime minister if he emerged victorious.
Speaking shortly after voting ended, Mr Simion claimed his election was “clear.”
“I won!!! I am the new President of Romania and I am giving back the power to the Romanians!” Mr Simion said on Facebook. But Simion conceded the election later in the evening.
A crowd of Mr Dan’s supporters celebrated his victory outside his campaign headquarters in downtown Bucharest.
“These elections are really important for the European future,” said Ilinca Sipoteanu, 19. “This is very good for democracy and for the younger generations ... and also for our parents and grandparents that fought the system in 1989.” Romania’s communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was overthrown in 1989.
