In Romania, the electoral commission has counted all the votes cast in the presidential election held on 18 May, and the data show that the centrist, pro-European and pro-Ukrainian mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, won.
According to the figures cited, he received 53.6 per cent of the vote, while far-right candidate Giorghe Simion received 46.4 per cent.
The voter turnout was historic: 64.72 per cent, which means that 11,641,866 million people voted, given that 17,988,218 Romanians are registered on the permanent lists.
“This is your victory. This is the victory of thousands and thousands of people who campaigned these days, who believed that Romania can change in the right direction,” Nicusor Dan told thousands of supporters.
He also mentioned George Simion’s supporters, saying “we must build Romania together”, regardless of political preferences.
George Simion admitted his electoral defeat. “I would like to congratulate my opponent, Nicusor Dan. He won the election. It was the will of the Romanian people,” said the head of the Alliance for the Unification of Romanians (AUR).
The president in Romania appoints the prime minister (in agreement with parliament), represents the country at NATO and EU summits, and can veto on behalf of the country in the EU.