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Professional-EU centrist Nicuşor Dan gained Romania’s presidential run-off on Sunday, defeating an ultranationalist Eurosceptic who had topped the primary spherical and raised fears in regards to the nation’s pro-western orientation.

Dan, a 55-year-old mathematician and mayor of the capital Bucharest, secured greater than 54 per cent of the vote in contrast with practically 46 per cent for George Simion, a former soccer hooligan turned chief of the far-right AUR social gathering, after practically 97 per cent of votes had been counted.

The mayor’s victory caps months of political and financial turmoil triggered by the cancellation of a earlier vote attributable to alleged Russian interference, which put Bucharest in Moscow’s and Washington’s crosshairs and break up the nation over its method ahead.

“Elections are not about politicians, they are about communities. And the community that won today wants profound changes,” Dan mentioned to cheering crowds. He acknowledged the anger of the “community who lost”, promising reforms to battle corruption and enhance the rule of regulation.

“It is our task to fight for one Romania, not two.”

At practically 65 per cent, a excessive turnout appears to have tipped the stability in favour of Dan, who had acquired simply 21 per cent of the votes solid within the first spherical, practically half of Simion’s whole. Romanians mobilised to stop what many noticed as the specter of their nation turning its again on Nato, the EU and Ukraine.

Simion on Sunday claimed to have secured a “clear victory” on behalf of the Romanian individuals and mentioned he nonetheless had religion in each vote being counted appropriately.

His spokesperson later informed the FT: “We will ask for a recount if we have fraud concerns.”

Simion soared to pole place on the again of voter anger at authorities annulling the presidential election final 12 months owing to alleged Russian interference in favour of one other ultranationalist candidate, Călin Georgescu, who had surprisingly topped the primary spherical vote in November.

Georgescu was barred from working once more however endorsed Simion, who mentioned he would make Georgescu prime minister if he gained.

Simion claimed that his victory was additionally Georgescu’s, saying his ally “should have been president and is the president of Romania. I want to reassure Romanians I will keep my word and he will come to power.”

The cancelled vote and Simion’s first-round win triggered a political and financial disaster, with the prime minister resigning, the leu forex’s worth nosediving and the nation struggling to boost debt on worldwide markets.

Dan will now face the troublesome job of appointing a primary minister and a useful new authorities capable of go reforms wanted to keep away from shedding investor-grade standing and entry to EU funds.

Simion’s AUR is the second-largest parliamentary power and might be joined in opposition by Romania’s greatest social gathering, the Social Democrats, who’re at present in a coalition authorities.

In Bucharest, Dan voters had been elated, cheering whereas draped in EU flags and chanting “Nicuşor”, “Europe” and “Russia, don’t forget, Romania is not yours”.

“I am thrilled, today we have shown that Romania is still a country that is fully committed to Nato and the European Union,” mentioned Ianis Turcu, a historical past pupil.

Ana Iliescu, an information analyst, mentioned she felt “so relieved” as a result of her nation prevented electing somebody who she believes is a pro-Russian as president.

Costin Ciobanu, a researcher at Aarhus College, mentioned: “This is a great moment for Romanian democracy. Voters turned out in high numbers, both at home and abroad, reaffirming their trust in the electoral process.”

Dan’s victory, if upheld within the last outcomes, was “one of the most remarkable comebacks” for reasonable political forces in Romania’s trendy political historical past, Ciobanu mentioned.

Voters opted for “a steady course of change rather than a radical or vindictive alternative”.

Simion alarmed many citizens together with his “erratic behaviour” after his first-round win and “statements that raised questions about his democratic commitment”, based on Ciobanu.

“Over the past two weeks, voters had time to imagine what a Simion presidency might look like — and many clearly rejected that prospect.”