Reactions to the presidential elections in Romania

Political leaders from Romania and abroad have congratulated the independent candidate Nicușor Dan on winning the presidential elections.

Leyla Cheamil, 19.05.2025, 13:50

Romania’s interim president Ilie Bolojan on Monday morning congratulated Bucharest’s pro-European mayor Nicuşor Dan on winning the presidential elections.

“Romania has chosen, Congratulations, Nicuşor Dan! I’d like to thank Romanian citizens for showing up in large number at the polling stations, irrespective of their choice. I am grateful to all those involved in organising the elections for the good conditions in which the second round was also held”, Bolojan posted on his Facebook page.

Former prime minister Marcel Ciolacu, the president of the Social Democratic Party, in government together with the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania), also congratulated Nicuşor Dan on his Sunday win. He said the Romanian people once again demonstrated that in the most difficult of times, they can overcome economic, social and political differences and get united before danger. He also said that the election results clearly show that Romania needs reconciliation and reconstruction.

The leader of the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, Kelemen Hunor, congratulated Nicuşor Dan, pointing out that ethnic Hungarians voted in larger numbers for the new president of the country.

George Simion, the presidential candidate of the sovereignist Alliance for the Union of Romanians, congratulated his rival for winning the second round, emphasising that this was the will of the Romanian people.

Reactions to the results of Sunday’s elections also came from abroad. “My warmest congratulations to Nicuşor Dan on his victory tonight! The Romanian people have turned out massively to the polls. They have chosen the promise of an open, prosperous Romania in a strong Europe. Together, let’s deliver on that promise,” European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen posted on social media. The speaker of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, said that, under Nicuşor Dan’s leadership, Romania will go from strength to strength and will keep shaping Europe.

France’s president Emmanuel Macron called Nicuşor Dan and congratulated him on his election victory: “France will be together with you in order to consolidate our partnership and work together for a stronger, more sovereign and more independent Europe”, Macron also said. Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez said Romania and the European Union won, and the far right lost. “Long live free Romania”, Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk posted in Romanian, English and Polish.

Maia Sandu, the president of the Republic of Moldova, an ex-Soviet state with a majority Romanian-speaking population, congratulated Nicuşor Dan on winning the elections and reiterated that the two neighbouring states are walking together on their European path.