A spectacular turnaround. The pro-European mayor of Bucharest Nicusor Dan won the Second round of the presidential election Sunday in Romaniaaccording to almost final results, after a ballot marked by a strong participation in a tense climate.
After counting more than 90 % of the bulletins, the centrist candidate collected almost 54 % of the vote, against 46 % for The leader of the nationalist party Aur George Simion.
In the early evening, the publication of first figures from exit polls of the ballot boxes was welcomed in the confusion, the two candidates claiming victory.
In the headquarters of Nicusor Dan, located in a Bucharest park, the fifties praised all smiles “the victory of a community of Romanians eager for a profound change”.
“Let us savor this evening and from tomorrow, rebuild Romania,” he added before his supporters singing “Europe” and “unit”.
Simion denounces “frauds”
At the same time, his rival, speaking before Parliament, proclaimed himself “the new president of Romania”, counting on the votes of the important diaspora to win and denounce “fraud”.
George Simion, a sovereignist fervent admirer of Donald Trumphad largely dominated the first round on May 4 with almost 41 % of the votes, double of his opponent.
But many Romanians have mobilized in the meantime to reverse the situation of a ballot presented as crucial for the European future of this neighboring country of Ukraine, five months after the extremely rare cancellation of a ballot tainted with suspicion of Russian interference. The participation rate amounted to almost 65 %, against only 53 % in the first round.
