Romania’s Central Electoral Bureau has published near-complete preliminary results from the second round of the presidential election, confirming a clear lead for pro-European candidate Nicușor Dan over his far-right, pro-Russian rival George Simion. With over 97 per cent of precinct reports processed, Dan appears set to win the presidency with a margin too wide to overturn.
As of Sunday night, Dan, the independent mayor of Bucharest known for his pro-Western stance, has secured 54.34 per cent of the counted votes. His opponent, George Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), trails with 45.66 per cent. According to data released by the electoral commission, the difference between the candidates exceeds 900,000 votes, with approximately 1.3 million ballots left to be tallied.
The remaining votes include those from precincts with particularly high turnout and from several polling stations abroad. While counting is still ongoing in diaspora centres with large Romanian populations — notably in the United States and Canada — electoral authorities consider Dan’s lead effectively insurmountable. The results suggest a consolidation of the centre and centre-left electorate behind Dan, reflecting concern over Simion’s populist rhetoric and international positioning.
Despite the statistical unlikelihood of a reversal, Simion declared himself the winner of the election in a public statement made shortly after polls closed at 9 p.m. local time. Standing before a crowd of supporters on a central Bucharest street, he dismissed exit poll findings and claimed victory by an alleged margin of over 400,000 votes. His statement made reference to “parallel vote counting” operations and suggested that any official discrepancy would be due to electoral fraud.
“We are the unequivocal winners of this election. We demand the recognition of our victory in the name of the Romanian people,” Simion proclaimed.
He went on to express gratitude to supporters both within Romania and abroad, including members of the diaspora, some of whom reportedly travelled hundreds of kilometres to vote.
This assertion came at a time when not only were official results incomplete, but in many diaspora constituencies voting was still underway. Simion’s statement appears to be a pre-emptive challenge to the electoral process, positioning his campaign to question the legitimacy of the outcome should final results not favour him.
Simion, a controversial figure in Romanian and regional politics, has been barred from entering both Ukraine and Moldova on national security grounds. His AUR party has gained traction among nationalist and conservative voters, often employing rhetoric critical of NATO, the European Union, and neighbouring states. Analysts have previously raised concerns over AUR’s ties with Russian political networks, though the party denies receiving any foreign support.
Nicușor Dan, by contrast, has built a profile as a technocrat and civic activist, focusing his campaign on transparency, institutional reform, and continued Euro-Atlantic integration. He ran as an independent, though he received tacit support from Romania’s main centre-right and liberal formations during the second-round campaign. His anticipated victory signals continued alignment with the EU and NATO, at a time of increasing geopolitical tension in Eastern Europe.
Romania’s presidency is largely ceremonial in domestic governance but plays a significant role in foreign policy and defence matters. The head of state also wields influence over judicial appointments and acts as mediator in political disputes.
Official results are expected to be finalised and certified in the coming days, pending the completion of overseas counting and verification procedures. Meanwhile, electoral authorities have not commented on Simion’s premature declaration but have reiterated the legal requirement to await the final certified tally.
The conduct of the run-off and its outcome will be closely monitored in Brussels and other European capitals. Romania’s presidential contest has unfolded against a backdrop of growing concerns over Russian influence in the region and heightened political polarisation. Dan’s projected victory may reassure Romania’s Western allies but is unlikely to resolve internal political divisions exacerbated by a polarising campaign.
