The Mayor of Bucharest, Nicușor Dan, is on course for a surprise victory in Romania’s presidential runoff against far-right candidate George Simion, according to two major exit polls. The outcome is being seen as a strong indication that Romanian citizens favor continuing the country’s pro-Western trajectory.
Polls conducted by Avangarde and CURS suggest that Dan secured just over 54% of the vote cast on May 18, in the second round of an intensely debated election, following months of unprecedented political turmoil.
Voter turnout hit a record high, with over 64% of eligible voters—around 11.6 million people from Romania and the diaspora—casting their ballots. That figure is more than 2 million higher than in the first round and significantly higher than the initial vote held last November, which was annulled amid allegations of Russian interference.
Official results are expected later in the evening.
“There is a community that lost today’s election. A community so outraged by the way politics has been done so far that they believe the only solution is a revolution,” Dan said shortly after the release of the exit polls.
“It’s our duty to convince them that justice reform and the fight against corruption will be a priority.”
Simion, who entered the race as a replacement for Călin Georgescu—disqualified despite winning the first round last year—has positioned himself as a nationalist alternative, openly opposing military aid to neighboring Ukraine and criticizing EU leadership.
Although Simion led the first round on May 4 with about 41% of the vote, while Dan trailed far behind at around 21%, the runoff saw a shift. Most polls had continued to show Simion in the lead, although recent surveys had the two neck-and-neck.
Simion, the 38-year-old leader of the AUR party, dismissed the exit poll results, claiming his internal data showed he had won by 400,000 votes.
“I will be the president of all Romanians, your president as well,” Simion declared in a defiant speech, asserting victory.
“Thank you to the millions who made this win possible. It is the victory of a man destined to be president—Călin Georgescu.”
Nicușor Dan, who failed twice in earlier bids to become Bucharest mayor, was finally elected in 2020 and re-elected in 2024, despite criticism over his communication skills.
This election result is expected to have a major impact not only on Romania’s fragile economy, but also on unity within the European Union, as tensions between populist and pro-European forces remain high.
