Dan beat ultranationalist candidate George Simion to win the election, as the hard-right candidate cozied up to U.S. President Donald Trump, ripping pages from his MAGA agenda, while threatening to stop military support for Ukraine.
“Congratulations Nicușor Dan! Long live free Romania,” exulted center-right Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose party candidate also won a narrow election victory Sunday night in Poland.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also thrilled by the outcome, as Dan promises to keep Romania on its pro-EU, pro-NATO pathway.
“For Ukraine — as a neighbour and friend — it is important to have Romania as a reliable partner. And we are confident we will. By working together, we can strengthen both our countries and our Europe,” Zelenskyy said.
“I look forward to further developing the strategic partnership between our friendly nations for the sake of their stability, security, and prosperity,” Zelenskyy added.
“Congratulations, dear Nicușor Dan, on being elected President of Romania! Moldova and Romania stand together, supporting one another and working side by side for a peaceful, democratic, and European future for all our citizens,” said Moldovan President Maia Sandu, whose country has been at loggerheads with the irredentist Simion for years.
