Sarah Rainesford, Paul Kirby and Olipiah Zagnat
In Bucharest and London
Andrei Pungovschi/Getty Images
Nixondan had to wait late at night before he could secure a victory
Nixor Dunn, the liberal mayor of Bucharest Proeu, fought a strong challenge from Romanian right-wing nationalists to win the presidency after months of political upheaval.
George Simion, the leader of the far-right AUR party, won a dramatic first-round victory earlier this month, riding a wave of rage from Romanians whose presidential race was invalidated late last year due to claims of Russian interference.
However, it was Nixon Dunn, who, despite Simion was well ahead of the diaspora, won 55% of the vote in Romania and swept the victory.
“No matter who you vote, we need to build Romania together,” said Dan once his victory was safe.
Over 11.6 million Romanians voted for Sunday’s leak, and Dan gained more than 6 million support.
The mathematician waited until midnight on Sunday before joining his supporters in the park opposite the city hall in Bucharest, absolutely certain that the numbers were on his side.
They went wild and cheered by reciting his name. At one point he was mostly mobstered, but this was a huge moment for his supporters after the presidential election and months of political tensions.
“The Romanian community has won, hoping for a big change in Romania,” he said.
Getty Images
Supporters of President Elect Nixon Dan welcome him after his victory
Romanians are extremely frustrated by the domination of the mainstream parties of this European Union and NATO member states and the intensification earlier this month when the government collapsed due to the failure of candidates to win the second round.
Nixor Dan campaigned by fighting corruption and maintaining support for Northern neighbouring Ukraine, but Simion attacked the EU and called for a cut in aid to Kiev.
“Russia, don’t forget, Romania isn’t yours,” chanted Dan’s supporters.
Exit’s poll gave him a victory, but they didn’t include a very important diaspora vote, and Simion stuck to the belief that he could still win.
“I won, I am the new president of Romania, and I am giving back to the Romanians,” he first insisted.
It was not until early Monday that he recognized the victory on Facebook. The protest planned by his supporters was clearly cancelled.
During the election campaign, Simion stood alongside Karin Georgek, the far-right fringe figure who surprised Romania with his first-round presidential victory late last year.
The vote was voided against allegations of campaign fraud and Russian interference, and Georgescu was banned from running again. Russia denied involvement.
George Simion was asked on Sunday if he was Georgek’s puppet.
“Do you only like democracy when the good guys win? I don’t think this is an option.”
He said he was a patriot and criticised what he called the mainstream media for smearing him as a pro-Russian or fascist.
George Simion says he is “a man of my people and represents change.”
The key to Simion’s first round success was his extraordinary victory among Western European diaspora voters, including the UK.
His supporters came back into effect on Sunday, with partial results supporting 68.5% in Spain, 66.8% in Italy and 67% in Germany. He also had the advantage in the UK where voters said they had chosen Karin Georgek if the authorities weren’t running him.
“We didn’t know anything [Georgescu] But then I can hear what he’s saying and say he’s a good Christian,” said 37-year-old Catalina Gransair.
If Simion wins, she vows to return to Romania, and her mother Maria says she also voted for the change.
BBC/Olimpia Zagnat
Catalina Gransea and her mother Maria were impressed by Karin Georgek
However, Nicozer Dunn’s voters have emerged in even larger numbers both in Romania and abroad. In nearby Moldova, 87% of Romanians supported the mayor of Bucharest.
Both Moldova and Ukraine presidents congratulated him on his victory.
“Moldova and Romania stand together, support each other and work side by side for a peaceful, democratic, European future for all our citizens,” Maia Sandou said.
“It’s important for Ukraine to have Romania as a trusted partner as a neighbor and friend,” said Vorodimia Zelensky of Kiev.
European Commission’s Ursula von der Leyen said on social media that Romanians were discovered in large numbers and “chosen the promise of Romania, which was open and prosperous in a powerful Europe.”
