Pro-EU Nicusor Dan defeats hard-right rival in key Romania election

The European Union and Ukraine welcome the result.

Centrist Nicusor Dan has been declared the winner of Romania’s closely watched presidential election with 99 percent of votes counted.

Bucharest’s pro-European mayor won 54 percent of the votes, the electoral authority reported on Monday, to beat nationalist George Simion, who was on 46 percent. The result of the race, viewed as crucial for the direction of the NATO member and having wider geopolitical implications for Europe, has been warmly welcomed by the European Union and Ukraine.

Dan, who pledged to clamp down on corruption and staunchly supports Romania’s membership of the EU and NATO, made a last-minute dash to lead the race ahead of the election after weeks of trailing his rival.

The eurosceptic Simion had pledged to end military aid for Ukraine in its war with Russia and promised to disrupt the establishment in a similar style to United States President Donald Trump.

However, the threat of turning the country away from Europe and towards Russia appeared to mobilise the liberal base, and Sunday’s election drew a turnout of about 65 percent, the highest in 25 years.