‘There will be a difficult period ahead, necessary for economic rebalancing to lay the foundations of a healthy society,’ said Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan.
Nicusor Dan, the mayor of Bucharest, Romania, won Romania’s presidential election on May 18.
The election was closely watched throughout the European continent, with nationalist and pro-European Union candidates vying for the Romanian presidency.
Official results from nearly all voting stations showed Dan garnering about 54 percent of ballots cast by voters in the EU and NATO member country of about 19 million people, while nationalist George Simion was at 46 percent.
Dan’s win comes after weeks of lagging behind Simion, a supporter of the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump and a Euroskeptic who opposes military aid for Ukraine.
Dan championed fighting rampant corruption and maintaining Romania’s existing ties to its European neighbors.
Dan will face the test of needing to nominate a prime minister to negotiate a majority in Parliament. That will be crucial for lowering the nation’s budget deficit, which is higher than any other in the European Union (EU).
He will also need to reassure investors and attempt to stop Romania’s credit rating from being downgraded.
“There will be a difficult period ahead, necessary for economic rebalancing to lay the foundations of a healthy society. Please have hope and patience,” Dan told his supporters following the release of exit polls.
Romania is a member of both the EU and NATO, and its president’s powers extend to being in charge of the nation’s defense council, which determines military aid. The president also oversees foreign policy matters and can veto any EU votes that require consensus.
Romania’s voting occurred on the same day as the Polish election’s first round. In that contest, liberal front-runner Rafal Trzaskowski is up against two conservative Trump supporters, Karol Nawrocki and Slawomir Mentzen.
After voting closed on May 18, Simion wrote on Facebook: “I won!!! I am the new President of Romania, and I am giving back the power to the Romanians!” But Simion conceded the election later in the evening.
The May 18 vote came nearly six months after the initial election, which was cancelled over allegations of Russian interference, which Moscow denied. That contest went for conservative and Euroskeptic Calin Georgescu, who was banned from running again.
Reuters contributed to this report.
