European leaders and markets expressed relief following the victory of centrist Nicusor Dan in Romania’s presidential election on Sunday. Dan’s win over his pro-Trump, eurosceptic rival, George Simion, reassured Romania’s European allies that the country would not shift towards a Trump-style political direction.
Dan, a 55-year-old mathematician and mayor of Bucharest, secured 54% of the vote in the country of 19 million people. His opponent, Simion, a nationalist and vocal admirer of Donald Trump, had sparked concern among allies and investors after a strong showing in the first round of voting earlier this month.
On Monday, Dan’s first official calls were with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Dan reaffirmed Romania’s commitment to NATO, emphasizing that defense investment would be a priority. He also reached out to French President Emmanuel Macron and Moldova’s President Maia Sandu, who hailed the result as a positive step for democratic values and the shared European path.
Dan, who had campaigned on a platform of fighting corruption, supporting Ukraine, and maintaining Romania’s place within the European mainstream, now faces the task of forming a new government. Simion, by contrast, had criticized EU leadership and opposed military aid to Ukraine. His strong position in the race had led to the collapse of Romania’s pro-Western coalition government.
The Romanian leu strengthened by more than 1.5% following the election, recovering from a 3% drop earlier in the month. Romania’s euro-denominated bonds also saw a rally.
Dan is expected to meet with Interim President Ilie Bolojan to discuss government transition and coalition talks. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen quickly congratulated Dan, praising the large voter turnout and the choice for an open, prosperous Romania within a strong Europe. European Council President Antonio Costa also highlighted the result as a testament to Romania’s commitment to the European project.
In light of rising nationalist sentiment across Europe, EU officials had expressed concern about Romania veering to the far-right. Analysts warned that a Simion victory could have isolated Romania and destabilized NATO’s eastern flank.
World leaders, including Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, French President Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, praised the result. Macron emphasized that Romanians had chosen democracy, the rule of law, and European integration.
The election followed a previous ballot cancellation due to allegations of Russian interference, which were denied by Moscow. Telegram founder Pavel Durov recently accused France’s foreign intelligence agency of attempting to suppress conservative voices in Romania, but the agency denied the claims.
Political analyst Radu Magdin expects Dan to pursue a balanced foreign policy, seeking to maintain positive relations with the Trump administration while remaining firmly aligned with European values.
