SOURCE :- THE AGE NEWS
London: Pro-European centrist Nicusor Dan is poised to become Romania’s next president after exit polls showed him defeating far-right nationalist George Simion in a bitterly contested run-off election.
The poll has exposed deep divisions in Romanian society and raised international concerns about the country’s democratic direction. According to exit data released late on Sunday (early Monday, AEST) by leading polling institutes CURS and Avangarde, Dan leads with about 54 per cent of the vote, ahead of Simion’s 45 per cent.
Romanian presidential candidate Nicusor Dan (centre) greets supporters after the first exit poll results on Sunday.Credit: Getty Images
The official result has yet to include the more than 1.6 million votes cast by Romanians living abroad, a constituency that has historically leaned pro-Europe but which backed Simion in the first round.
Dan, 55, an independent candidate and the current mayor of Bucharest, declared the result a victory for “a Romania that wants change” during a brief speech to supporters in the capital.
“This election was not about politicians,” he said. “It was about a choice for a united future, not a divided one.”
The second-round vote followed a turbulent electoral process triggered by the annulment of the original December 2024 presidential election, which was overturned after intelligence agencies revealed evidence of Russian-backed disinformation campaigns on TikTok promoting Simion’s political ally, Calin Georgescu. The annulment led to the collapse of the sitting government and sparked a period of economic and political instability.
Simion, 38, leader of the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), has been a polarising figure in Romanian politics.
A former football hooligan, he ran on a platform of nationalism, Euroscepticism and anti-elite rhetoric, vowing to “restore dignity” to what he described as a “humiliated” Romanian nation.
He entered the runoff with momentum after securing 45 per cent in the first round – more than double Dan’s tally – but his support appeared to stall amid a concerted mobilisation effort from urban voters, young Romanians and diaspora communities. About 11 million Romanians voted, a 64 per cent turnout.
Simion cast his vote outside Bucharest alongside Georgescu, who had endorsed him as his preferred prime minister. Police later escorted both men from the polling station after they attempted to address media from inside the voting precinct, in breach of Romanian electoral law.
Presidential candidate George Simion on Sunday.Credit: AP
Tensions remained high throughout election day. Romania’s foreign ministry issued a statement condemning a viral video that falsely claimed French troops disguised as Romanian soldiers were deployed near the border. France called the footage “a co-ordinated disinformation attempt”.
Simion has repeatedly suggested the election may be marred by fraud, despite no evidence. His supporters have circulated calls on social media for mass protests should he lose, with some referencing Ukraine’s 2014 Maidan uprising as a model.
Analysts warn the result – whatever the final tally – is unlikely to ease political instability.
“We are at a geopolitical crossroads,” former president Traian Basescu told local media on Sunday. “The choice here is not only between two candidates but between Romania’s continued integration with the West and a slide toward a more authoritarian model.”
Dan, a former mathematician who rose to prominence as an anti-corruption activist, has positioned himself as a moderate pro-European reformer. He has vowed to protect Romania’s democratic institutions, improve access to EU funds, and maintain the country’s commitments to NATO and the European Union.
The final official results are expected in coming days. If confirmed, Dan’s victory will represent a sharp reversal of political momentum after Simion’s strong first-round performance and will be seen by Western allies as a reaffirmation of Romania’s commitment to democratic norms at a time of rising nationalist sentiment across Central and Eastern Europe.
