Romania has elected a new president following one of the most dramatic and divisive elections in its recent history.

Nicușor Dan, the liberal and pro-European mayor of Bucharest, narrowly defeated far-right nationalist George Simion in a high-stakes presidential runoff.

Dan secured 53.6% of the vote, emerging victorious after a tense campaign marked by political upheaval, a cancelled election, and deep ideological divides.

The final count came late into the night, with Dan confirming his win only after midnight. Jubilant supporters gathered outside Bucharest City Hall, cheering and chanting as he addressed the crowd.

“We need to build Romania together, irrespective of who you voted for,” Dan said, calling for unity in a country shaken by months of political unrest.

An estimated 11.5 million Romanians cast their votes in Sunday’s decisive second round. While Simion dominated the diaspora vote, Dan gained strong support domestically, including in Moldova where 87% of Romanian voters backed him.

The runoff followed an annulled election last year, scrapped over allegations of Russian interference and campaign fraud after fringe candidate Călin Georgescu unexpectedly topped the polls. Georgescu was later disqualified, fueling anger among nationalist voters and giving momentum to Simion.

Despite early exit polls favoring Dan, Simion refused to concede, insisting late Sunday, “I won, I am the new president of Romania.”

He finally acknowledged defeat early Monday on Facebook, and a planned protest by his supporters was called off.

Simion, leader of the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) party, had built his campaign on anti-EU rhetoric and calls to end Romanian support for Ukraine.

In contrast, Dan ran on a pro-European platform, promising to fight corruption and maintain close ties with the West.

“Russia, don’t forget, Romania isn’t yours!” chanted Dan’s supporters on election night, a defiant message in the shadow of Russian aggression in Eastern Europe.

International reactions to Dan’s victory were swift. Moldovan President Maia Sandu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky both offered congratulations, praising Romania’s commitment to democracy and regional cooperation. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen lauded Romanians for choosing “the promise of an open, prosperous Romania in a strong Europe.”

Simion’s appeal was strongest among Romanians living in Western Europe, where he claimed large majorities in countries like Spain (68.5%), Italy (66.8%), and Germany (67%). In the UK, he narrowly edged Dan, with some voters expressing lingering frustration over Georgescu’s disqualification.

“We didn’t know anything about [Georgescu] but you could tell he was a good Christian,” said 37-year-old voter Catalina Grancea in the UK, who vowed to return to Romania if Simion won.

Simion denied accusations of being pro-Russian or fascist, calling himself “a man of my people” and attacking the mainstream media for what he claimed were smear campaigns.

“Do we like democracy only when the good guy has won?” he asked on election day.

Despite the loss, Simion’s strong first-round performance and wide support among disillusioned voters suggest his nationalist message continues to resonate with a significant portion of the population.

Nicușor Dan now faces the daunting task of uniting a polarized country and restoring trust in democratic institutions.

He takes office following the collapse of Romania’s coalition government, whose candidate failed to reach the second round, further pointing to the country’s political instability.

Still, Dan’s win is seen as a reaffirmation of Romania’s pro-European course, a critical stance at a time of regional uncertainty and ongoing war in neighboring Ukraine.

“A community of Romanians who want a profound change in Romania won,” Dan declared in his victory speech.