Romanian liberal mayor Nicusor then wins a tense race for the presidency

The liberal, pro-EU mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, has fought a strong challenge of a Romanian right-wing nationalist to win the presidency after months of political turbulence.

George Simion, the leader of the extreme right-wing Aur party, won a dramatic victory in the first round earlier this month and rode a wave of Romanians who had seen the presidential race at the end of last year due to claims of Russian interference.

But it was the soft spoken Nicusor than who wiped over the victory and won 54% of the voices in Romania, although Simion was more successful in the Diaspora.

“We have to build Romania together, regardless of who you voted,” said, as soon as his victory was safe.

More than 11.6 million Romanians voted in the removal of Sunday and then the support of more than six million of them drew.

The mathematician waited until after midnight on Sunday before he could be absolutely sure that the figures were by his side and he could join his supporters in a park opposite the town hall in Bucharest.

They became wild, sang his name and cheering. At one point he was almost harassed, but this was a huge moment for the chosen president and for his supporters after months of political tension.

“A community of Romanians who want a profound change in Romania,” said then.

Mihai, one of the many supporters who gathered in the capital outside his election headquarters, told the BBC that he “really worried about Simion”.

“I want to choose the pro-European way. It’s the only way. It’s really important,” he added.

Andrea, who came with her young daughter, said to the BBC: “We are so happy that we wanted to be here with other supporters of Nicosur.

“This means a better future for our children, for us. A good life for all of us and an honest Romania.”

Romanians are broadly unhappy with the dominance of regular parties and the turbulence in this European Union and NATO member state intensified earlier this month when the government collapsed because its candidate had not made the second round.

While Nicusor then campaigned when combating corruption and maintaining support for the northeastern neighbor Ukraine, Simion attacked the EU and called for assistance to Kiev.

“Russia, don’t forget, Romania is not yours,” sang Dan’s supporters.

Although exit surveys had given him the victory, they did not record the most important diaspora mood and Simion clung to the conviction that he could still win.

“I won, I am the new president of Romania and I give power back to the Romanians,” he initially maintained.

Only the early hours on Monday did he give the victory on Facebook. A protest planned by his supporters was apparently blown off.

During the election campaign, In addition to Calin Georgescu, the extreme right-wing edge figure that Romania had stunned with a first round presidential victory at the end of last year, stimulated by a huge Tiktok campaign.

The vote was canceled due to accusations of campaign fraud and Russian interference and Georgescu was allowed to run again. Russia denied any involvement.

Asked by the BBC on Sunday if he acted as Georgescu’s doll, said George Simion: “The dolls are those who have canceled the elections … I am a man of my people and my people voted for Calin Georgescu.

“We only feathers from democracy if the good guy has won? I don’t think this is an option.”

He said he was a patriot and accused what he called the regular media to smear him as a pro-Russian or fascist.

The key to the success of Simion in the first round was his extraordinary victory under Diaspora voters in Western Europe, also in the UK.

His supporters were again in force on Sunday, with partial results that received 68.5% support in Spain, 66.8% in Italy and 67% in Germany. He also had the lead in the UK, where voters said they would have chosen Calin Georgescu if the authorities had not excluded him to run.

“We knew nothing about (Georgescu), but then I listened to what he said, and you can see that he is a good Christian,” said 37-year-old Catalina Grannea.

She had sworn back to Romania as Simion had won and her mother Mary said that she had also voted for change: “Our children were forced to leave Romania because they could not find any jobs there.”

Nicusor’s voters, however, came in even larger numbers in both Romania and abroad. In neighboring Moldova, 87% of Romanians supported the mayor of Bucharest.

The presidents of both Moldova and Ukraine congratulated him on his victory.

“Moldova and Romania stand together, support each other and work side by side for a peaceful, democratic and European future for all our citizens,” said Maia Sandu.

“For Ukraine, as a neighbor and friend, it is important to have Romania as a reliable partner,” said Volodymyr Zensky in Kiev.

President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission said on social media that Romanians had been shown in massive numbers and “had chosen the promise of an open, prosperous Romania in a strong Europe”.

In the end this was an emphatic “not” voice for an avid nationalist with an isolationist vision for Romania, a well -known provocateur and a man whose dedication to EU membership and the core values ​​of the block was not clear.

Despite his strong show in the first round, those Romanians who were worried about what he had gathered for gathering to block him of power.

But Simion did win a considerable part of the voices and his message will still resonate with many.