Bucharest mayor wins Romanian presidency, rival calls for protests

Liberal Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan has won Romania’s presidential runoff election, according to the central electoral authority, which reports 99.32% of votes counted. His far-right rival, AUR leader George Simion, has rejected the results and urged supporters to protest.

Dan secured 53.97% of the vote, while Simion received 46.03%, a margin of more than 800,000 votes. Vote counting continues at diaspora polling stations, including in the United States and Canada.

Simion, known for his nationalist and Eurosceptic rhetoric, declared himself the “new president” and accused authorities of stealing the election. AUR supporters reportedly received messages urging nationwide demonstrations on May 19.

Romania’s foreign ministry reported signs of "Russian interference" during the election, citing a viral disinformation campaign via Telegram. France’s foreign ministry rejected allegations of Paris meddling and voiced support for Romania’s democratic process.

This was Romania’s second attempt to elect a president in less than a year, after the Constitutional Court annulled the 2024 first-round results over concerns about a candidate's alleged ties to Moscow.