Romania Reconfirms Its European Destiny

Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan’s clear victory in Romania’s presidential race was nothing short of an upset. The vote saw record turnout, which gives the election undisputable legitimacy. All pro-European parties mobilized to successfully woo voters at home and in the diaspora.

Foreign and domestic information manipulation has in recent years helped fuel distrust of democracies, and Romania’s was especially vulnerable given the cancellation of the original first round of the presidential election last fall and the bitter campaigning that followed. The vote’s final outcome, however, provides evidence that the appeal of a shared European destiny can bolster societal resilience.

Dan and his second-round opponent, George Simion, appealed to Romanians with an anti-establishment message, albeit from different perspectives. The former, an independent with a PhD in mathematics and a staunch track record for fighting corruption, came across as a practical, competent, and approachable public servant who will prioritize citizens’ interests over those of political parties. He overtly harnessed the support of all pro-European parties without shifting his positions. He is supported largely by urban elites, the private sector, youth, and the white-collar diaspora. Abroad, Dan had the endorsement of French President Emmanuel Macron, which provided opponents an opportunity to spread misinformation about Parisian interference in the election. Moldovan President Maia Sandu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are also rejoicing.

Simion built from scratch the Alliance for the Union of Romanians, now the second-largest party in the Romanian parliament. He ran a heavily nationalistic campaign, in tandem with the banned (initial) first-round victor, Calin Georgescu. Simion was often challenged as, at best, an isolationist or, at worst, pro-Russian, but he spent much time emphasizing close alignment with the Trump administration, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and right-wing Polish presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki. A Simion win would have strengthened the growing conservative bloc across Europe and its periphery, bolstering other autocratic Eurosceptics such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, and Georgian oligarch and de facto ruler Bidzina Ivanishvili. Such a political reset in Romania would have benefited the Kremlin’s Central European interests.

The rise of populist leaders, however, is not solely due to foreign interference or domestic information manipulation. The conservative wave in Europe will not soon disappear as ever-increasing numbers of people face socio-economic inequalities or repression of religious expression, and lose hope. Their demands to be seen and heard will continue. That means independent, pro-European progressive leaders such as Dan must ensure that they consider the interests of more than their urban supporters. They must bridge gaps among people by advocating for shared interests. This unifying agenda is not a high order when security concerns on Europe’s periphery should bring together all those who cherish independence and prosperity.