May 19, 2025

A roundup of local and world news

Vlad Palcu, 19.05.2025, 13:55

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION – Independent candidate Nicușor Dan, the pro-Western Mayor of Bucharest, has defeated the ultranationalist populist George Simion, the leader of AUR, in the second round of the presidential election held in Romania on Sunday. Dan obtained 53.6% of the vote, while his rival 46.4%. The turnout stood at almost 65%, well above the 53% recorded in the first round. Aged 55, Dan is a mathematician by training. He rose to prominence over two decades ago, thanks to his fight against the real estate mafia in Bucharest. He is the second mayor of the capital-city to reach the presidential office after Traian Băsescu, but he is the first to succeed as an independent candidate.

REACTIONS – Romania’s interim president, Ilie Bolojan, congratulated Nicuşor Dan on winning the presidential election and thanked the citizens for their large turnout, regardless of their vote. The president of PSD, Marcel Ciolacu, also congratulated the pro-European Bucharest Mayor General on his victory and said that Romanians have once again proven to the world that, in the most difficult of times, they know how to overcome differences and stand united in the face of danger. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said “the Romanian people have turned out massively to the polls. They have chosen the promise of an open, prosperous Romania in a strong Europe”. In turn, the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, emphasized that, despite numerous attempts at manipulation, the Romanian people chose democracy, the rule of law and the European Union. “For Ukraine, as a neighbor and friend, it is important Romania remains its trusted partner”, Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has told Nicușor Dan, congratulating him for what he described as “a historic victory”. In turn, Germany’s Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, as well as the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, have congratulated Nicușor Dan on winning the presidential election.

DISINFORMATION – The Defense Ministry reports a disinformation attempt on TikTok regarding the French military in Romania. According to the Ministry, a video was published on Sunday on the @19romania89 account whose author “claims”, without providing any evidence, that the French military deployed in Romania within the NATO Battle Group deployed in Cincu (center) are allegedly prepared to intervene to trigger a civil war in our country, at the end of the election process, in the event that a certain candidate is declared winner”. The French troops were allegedly supposed to be equipped wearing Romanian Gendarmerie uniforms. The information is false and has the potential to create confusion among Romanian citizens, and “the video material represents dangerous disinformation, without any real basis or concrete evidence. It is a clear example of manipulation, by spreading conspiracy theories that incite distrust in state institutions, international partners and the democratic process”, the Defense Ministry added, recalling that NATO military deployed on Romanian territory are tasked with contributing to the consolidation of the Romanian sector of NATO’s eastern flank and to deterring any aggression against allied territory, in the context of the unjustified war of aggression Russia is waging against Ukraine across the border.

SURVEY – Nearly half of Romanians do not dare express an opinion contrary to that of the majority or their boss at work, according to the latest survey conducted by the Romanian Open Minds Association. Dubbed the “diversity and inclusion” survey, the poll published its preliminary findings on the educational portal Edupedu.ro. The 2025 survey was conducted using the responses of over 800 randomly selected Internet users, and the margin of error is theoretically a maximum of 3.5%. According to the study, 81% of Romanians consider that mutual respect and support should be the norm at work, and 57% also appreciate cooperation and mutual assistance between coworkers. However, according to the research, harmony at work is superficial, due to tension created due to unexpressed divergent opinions. 44% of those surveyed said they do not dare express an opinion different from that of others or their boss because of the pressure they face. Only 34% of them usually express their opinion freely, and 22% of the survey participants did not answer the question.

RESCUE – Two young Ukrainians who crossed the border into Romania through the Maramureș Mountains (north) were rescued by mountain rescuers and border police, on Sunday night, the head of the Maramureș County Mountain Rescue Service (SPJ) Dan Benga has announced. The search and rescue operation at night was triggered after a friend of one of the young people notified the authorities approximately 12 hours after he last contacted him on the phone. He said that his friend was in a precarious state, without supplies, fighting the cold and blizzard. The two Ukrainian citizens, aged 24 and 26, respectively, were found in a forestry wagon and handed over to the Border Police, for specific procedures.

ELECTION IN POLAND – Warsaw Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski, the candidate of Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s ruling Liberal Party, won the first round of Poland’s presidential election by a narrow margin against nationalist Karol Nawrocki, supported by the conservative Law and Justice party (PiS) in opposition . The two will face off in the second round on June 1. According to the Election Commission, Trzaskowski won over 31% of the vote, and Nawrocki below 30%. The other candidates are far behind, including Slawomir Mentzen, the candidate of the ultranationalist Confederation Party. In Poland, the president can veto laws. A victory for Trzaskowski in the second round would allow the Tusk-led government to implement an agenda that includes reversing judicial reforms introduced by PiS, after conservative incumbent president Andrzej Duda largely thwarted the Prime Minister’s plans.

ELECTION IN PORTUGAL – Prime Minister Luis Montenegro’s Democratic Alliance (AD, moderate right) won Sunday’s snap parliamentary election in Portugal, but, pundits argue, did not obtain a sufficient majority to guarantee the country’s political stability. The far-right, represented by the Chega (“Enough”) party, which continues to gain ground with each election, reached the 20% threshold for the first time and threatens to overtake the Socialist Party (PS) as the main opposition force. According to official results, the ruling coalition alliance obtained 32.7% of the vote, compared to 23.4% for the PS and 22.6% for Chega. AD obtained 89 seats out of a total of 230, well below the threshold of 116 elected representatives that guarantee an absolute majority. The Socialists and the far right are currently tied, with 58 deputies each. (VP)