CNN: Romania's pro-EU candidate beats hard-right rival to win presidential election

[Dennis Donovan]

CNN - Romania’s pro-EU candidate beats hard-right rival to win presidential election

By Sophie Tanno and Mitchell McCluskey, CNN
Updated 5:44 PM EDT, Sun May 18, 2025



Romania’s pro-European Union presidential candidate Nicușor Dan won the country’s presidential election Sunday, defeating his ultranationalist rival.

With 98% of the votes counted, the centrist candidate won at least 53% of the ballots cast, a clear win over hard-right candidate George Simon, who is a fan of US President Donald Trump.

Simion, who opposes providing military aid to Ukraine and is critical of the EU, looked on track to win the election after he swept the first round on May 4. However, Dan gained ground after trouncing Simion in a televised debate.

The election comes five months after the result of the original vote, which saw former far-right outsider Calin Georgescu surge in popularity, was annulled over allegations of Russian interference.

Georgescu was later banned from this month’s rerun after being charged with various crimes, including founding a fascist group.

More than 10 million Romanians cast their vote in Sunday’s election, which was widely seen as a choice between East and West and a litmus test for the rise of Trump-style nationalism in Europe.

/snip

[Skittles]

1. it's like the rest of the world learned from America's mistake

yup

[SheltieLover]

2. Outstanding!!!

[Phoenix61]

3. Seems the far right isn't doing so well. YEAH!!!😀

[Emrys]

4. A great and very significant result

The more so because it was a clear win and didn't need to go to a runoff, when Putin's lackeys would no doubt have stepped up their dirty tricks.

[Cha]

5. Yes, This is Brilliant and so Heartening!

Speaking of "putin" .. It was posted on here that he had said something like.. ". If America goes Fascist.. the rest of the world will Fall in line".

He doesn't know Shit about the other part of America or the World that is not run by a Cult sacred cow.

[Amaryllis]

10. On the contrary, the rest of the world is watching and going the other way. Carney in CA and the new PM in Australia!

[Cha]

11. So much for Putin's prediction.

[a kennedy]

6. Oh, and so sorry again.....I so hope this appropriate....

FAWK THEM ALL. FAWK THEM ALL. FAWK THEM ALL.

[littlemissmartypants]

7. I see a big beautiful blue box.

And this is what it says:

postimage
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If posters would take the time to include a description similar to what is done for the visually impaired, we wouldn't have to play the "what was in the blue box" mystery game.

[BaronChocula]

8. So no trump tower Bucharest

any time in the near future.

And Transylvania WILL NOT be renamed Birthsexania.

[blue-wave]

9. This is great news!!

Now we need a win in Poland's runoffs, scheduled for June 1st. The vote will also likely be very close in Poland.