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Pro-Western candidate Nicusor Dan appeared to win Romania’s presidential runoff with more than 54% of the vote, early exit polls showed late Sunday, in a critical election for the European Union and NATO member state bordering war-torn Ukraine.
According to the CURS exit poll, Dan led with 54.1% against far-right challenger George Simion, broadcaster Antena3 reported. A second poll by Avant-garde gave Dan 54.9% to Simion’s 45.1%.
Citing Romania’s central electoral authority, the broadcaster said voter turnout exceeded 64%—a significant rise from the 53% turnout in the May 4 first round, where Simion had placed first.
Despite the exit poll results, both candidates claimed victory. Speaking to supporters in a Bucharest park, Dan declared: “In today’s elections, a community of Romanians who want a profound change in Romania won. Our country’s reconstruction begins on Monday. This is a moment of hope.”
Simion, a staunch supporter of former United States President Donald Trump, addressed cheering supporters outside parliament, saying: “I am the new president of Romania. We are the clear winners of this election, and we claim victory in the name of the Romanian people!”
Simion also urged his backers to remain vigilant at polling sites, warning them “not to allow any electoral fraud.”
The presidential race was widely viewed as pivotal for Romania’s future direction, with the nation playing a key role on NATO’s eastern flank amid Russia’s ongoing war in neighboring Ukraine.
A previous vote last year was annulled due to widespread allegations of Russian interference and the online promotion of Simion’s candidacy through disinformation campaigns. Simion had been barred from that election before re-entering the race this year.
The Romanian government said it had detected a “viral campaign of fake news” bearing “hallmarks of Russian interference.” The accusation came after Telegram founder Pavel Durov claimed France requested the suppression of Romanian conservative voices.
France’s foreign ministry “categorically” rejected Durov’s allegation.
Dan and Simion both ran on anti-establishment platforms, vowing to shake up Romania’s political system, long plagued by corruption and mistrust. The vote marked a turning point as Romanians weighed diverging visions for the country's role in the West and its domestic trajectory.
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