{"id":6462,"date":"2025-05-20T00:05:08","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T00:05:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.euro-tv.ro\/news\/romanias-new-president-faces-daunting-challenges-after-surprise-victory-over-far-right-upstart\/"},"modified":"2025-05-20T00:05:08","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T00:05:08","slug":"romanias-new-president-faces-daunting-challenges-after-surprise-victory-over-far-right-upstart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.euro-tv.ro\/news\/romanias-new-president-faces-daunting-challenges-after-surprise-victory-over-far-right-upstart\/","title":{"rendered":"Romania\u2019s new president faces daunting challenges after surprise victory over far-right upstart"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Romania\u2019s<\/p>\n

There was a wave of euphoria and relief across Europe following the election of pro-European liberal Nicusor Dan as Romania\u2019s new president.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor Ukraine \u2014 as a neighbour and friend \u2014 it is important to have Romania as a reliable partner. And we are confident we will,\u201d said<\/a> President Volodymyr Zelensky after Dan\u2019s victory. Moldovan President Maia Sandu echoed the sentiment: \u201cCongratulations, dear Nicusor Dan,\u201d she said with visible enthusiasm.<\/p>\n

The presidential runoff was closely watched in Kyiv and Chisinau, as Dan faced off against George Simion, a Russia-linked nationalist<\/a> banned from entering both Moldova and Ukraine.<\/p>\n

Dan\u2019s victory, with 53.6% of the vote<\/a>, surprised many observers. He overcame a significant 20-point deficit from the first round and secured an additional 4.3 million votes<\/a> in the second round.<\/p>\n

Voter turnout exceeded 64%, the highest recorded since 1996, reflecting a highly mobilized electorate.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n
\n
Poland, Romania presidential elections held amid Russian interference, far-right surge \u2014 what you need to know<\/div>\n
Editor\u2019s note: This article has been updated to include information from Ukraine\u2019s military intelligence agency (HUR). Poland and Romania \u2014 key NATO allies bordering Ukraine \u2014 are holding presidential elections on May 18, with both votes unfolding under the shadow of Russian interference and rising far-right influence. The simultaneous elections are being<\/div>\n
\"Romania\u2019sThe Kyiv Independent<\/span>Tim Zadorozhnyy<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"Romania\u2019s<\/div>\n

<\/a><\/figure>\n

From activist to president<\/code><\/h2>\n

A former mathematician and Sorbonne PhD, Nicusor Dan began his political ascent as an anti-corruption activist in Bucharest. After a failed attempt to run for mayor in 2012, he entered local politics in 2016, placing second in the mayoral race and securing council seats for his new political movement \u2014 the Save Bucharest Union.<\/p>\n

That same year, the Save Bucharest Union evolved into the Save Romania Union (USR), which would become a key player in Romanian politics. However, Dan\u2019s liberalism had its limits, he left the party a year later after refusing to support equal rights for same-sex couples.<\/p>\n

Running as an independent, Dan won the Bucharest mayoral election in 2020 and was re-elected in 2024. Now, he makes the short journey \u2014 just a 40-minute walk \u2014 from Bucharest City Hall to the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.<\/p>\n

No honeymoon ahead<\/code><\/h2>\n

Despite the enthusiasm from European officials, experts warn that Dan faces immediate and formidable challenges.<\/p>\n

There will be \u201cno honeymoon,\u201d Romanian journalist C\u0103t\u0103lin Tolontan warned. \u201cDan has to form a government immediately to manage the country during a time that all economists say is of crisis,\u201d said journalist Magda Gradinaru in an interview with the Kyiv Independent, referring to Romania\u2019s rising inflation and growing budget deficit.<\/p>\n

Beyond economic instability, Dan is expected to deliver on promises of institutional reform and anti-corruption efforts. His stated priorities include fixing the budget deficit, bolstering national security, and restoring public trust in government.<\/p>\n

Political gridlock<\/code><\/h2>\n

Dan\u2019s victory also highlighted the weakening legitimacy of Romania\u2019s mainstream political parties. \u201cWe had a vote that broke the legitimacy of the mainstream parties,\u201d Gradinaru said. \u201cThese parties will try to preserve the status quo during coalition negotiations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some believe that if acting President Ilie Bolojan of the National Liberal Party becomes prime minister, he could consolidate enough parliamentary support. But others are less optimistic.<\/p>\n

Journalist Sabina Fati pointed out that Dan\u2019s outsider image and anti-establishment rhetoric might complicate efforts to build a governing majority. \u201cDan said last night that \u2018Romania needs new people in politics.\u2019 That will make negotiations harder,\u201d she noted. \u201cIf the Social Democratic Party \u2014 the largest in parliament with over 25% of seats \u2014 does not support him, his presidency may suffer from a deficit of credibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

Notably, the Social Democrats abstained from formally endorsing Dan during the runoff.<\/p>\n

Divided electorate<\/code><\/h2>\n

Dan has promised to reduce political polarization and expressed \u201crespect\u201d for those who hold different opinions. However, it remains unclear how he plans to regain the trust of citizens who voted for the far-right.<\/p>\n

\"Romania\u2019s<\/picture>
The stage set ahead of an election night speech by George Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), in front of the parliament building in Bucharest, Romania, on Sunday, May 18, 2025. (Alexandra Corcode\/Bloomberg via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While many voters expressed hope for better wages and pensions, left-wing voices have criticized the dominance of neoliberal policies in Romanian politics, calling instead for progressive taxation and affordable housing.<\/p>\n

Political scientist Vladimir Bortun, from Oxford University, underscored the urgency of addressing social inequality. Despite recent economic growth, Romania remains among the most unequal countries in the EU, with 28% of the population at risk of poverty<\/a> and another 17% experiencing severe material deprivation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite successive increases in the minimum wage over the past decade, the median wage is barely over five euros an hour \u2014 about one-third of the EU average,\u201d Bortun wrote<\/a> in The New York Times.<\/p>\n

\"Romania\u2019s<\/picture>
Leader of nationalist party Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) and presidential candidate George Simion (R) speaks next to former presidential candidate Calin Georgescu at a polling station, during the second round of presidential elections, in Mogosoaia, near Bucharest, on May 18, 2025. (Mihai Barbu\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Gradinaru believes the country needs a wide-reaching debate about national unity, not just political dialogue. \u201cWe need administrative reform and access to education, healthcare, social services, and culture for the socially vulnerable. These are the building blocks of a strong middle class \u2014 one that is more resilient to internal and external threats.\u201d<\/p>\n

Journalist Ioana Dogioiu offered a sobering warning: if reforms don\u2019t come soon, \u201cthis might be the last time Romania dodges a bullet.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

– https:\/\/kyivindependent.com\/tag\/ukraine\/rss\/<\/p>\n

This article appeared on the websitekyivindependent.com
\nThis article is taken based on Law no. 8\/1996 of Romania. News does not enjoy copyright, so they can be taken, this is our right to take news and information in its entirety and distribute them further. The content was made available to us through the rss mechanism
\nOriginal Content<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There was a wave of euphoria and relief across Europe following the election of pro-European liberal Nicusor Dan as Romania\u2019s new president. \u201cFor Ukraine \u2014 as a neighbour and friend \u2014 it is important to have Romania as a reliable partner. And we are confident we will,\u201d said President Volodymyr Zelensky after Dan\u2019s victory. Moldovan […]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":6463,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1152,1],"tags":[4777,2432,579,6469,1059,6431,99,507,1451,2782,3476,6470],"class_list":["post-6462","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kyivindependent","category-news","tag-challenges","tag-victory","tag-after","tag-daunting","tag-faces","tag-far-right","tag-new","tag-over","tag-president","tag-romanias","tag-surprise","tag-upstart"],"yoast_head":"\nRomania\u2019s new president faces daunting challenges after surprise victory over far-right upstart - News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.euro-tv.ro\/news\/romanias-new-president-faces-daunting-challenges-after-surprise-victory-over-far-right-upstart\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Romania\u2019s new president faces daunting challenges after surprise victory over far-right upstart - News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"There was a wave of euphoria and relief across Europe following the election of pro-European liberal Nicusor Dan as Romania\u2019s new president. \u201cFor Ukraine \u2014 as a neighbour and friend \u2014 it is important to have Romania as a reliable partner. 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