The liberal and pro-European mayor of Bucharest, Nicușor Dan, has won the hotly contested race for the Romanian presidency, defeating his nationalist rival George Simion. After Simion secured a strong lead in the first round, Sunday’s runoff saw Dan emerge victorious with 53.6% of the vote, Rks News reports.
Simion had stronger support from the Romanian diaspora, but it was not enough to claim the nation’s highest office. Dan, a mathematician and the mayor of Bucharest, received over 6 million votes out of roughly 11.5 million citizens who participated in the election.
In a speech following the announcement of the results, Dan called on all citizens of the country to work together.
“We must build Romania together, regardless of who you voted for.” His supporters cheered enthusiastically in front of Bucharest City Hall, expressing hope for profound change in the country.
On the other hand, George Simion conceded defeat and responded respectfully to the election outcome, closing a tense political chapter in Romania.
