Pro-European Dan is Romania's new president
The mayor of Bucharest, Nicușor Dan, has won the presidential election in Romania. The pro-European liberal-conservative secured roughly 54 percent of the vote in Sunday's run-off, overtaking George Simion of the far-right AUR party, who came second with 46 percent. Commentators analyse the results and future challenges.
Fear drove voters to the ballot box
Romania has only narrowly avoided an extremist future, G4Media.ro sighs in relief:
“Fear of the future prompted the undecided and also some non-voters to go to the polls. Even if they didn't like Nicușor Dan as a candidate, they voted against the danger of the country falling into the hands of George Simion and his AUR. Fear of straying from the Western path, fear of leaving the EU, fear of a new dictatorship, fear of economic collapse - a whole host of fears propelled many people to the ballot box. ... Romania has narrowly avoided the dangers of extremism at the last minute - at least for now.”
Enormous mobilisation
La Repubblica sees the reason for Dan's victory in the high voter turnout:
“The baby-faced mayor of Bucharest, Nicușor Dan, has won, and young people chant 'Europe, Europe' at ten o'clock in the evening on the majestic Elisabeta Boulevard. In the presidential elections, the liberal candidate overtook his far-right rival George Simion, who had secured twice as many votes in the first round with 41 percent. An enormous mobilisation led to 65 percent of eligible voters going to the polls: a fortnight ago, that figure was little more than half as high. Dan won with 53.8 percent of the vote: an impressive overtaking manoeuvre.”
The people chose a dignified candidate
This was not an easy victory for Nicușor Dan, republica.ro recalls:
“Nicușor Dan was attacked in a way never seen before in Romanian politics. So-called Internet experts made medical diagnoses and he and his family were personally attacked. ... Few people can get over this kind of thing - and certainly not gracefully. ... But Nicușor Dan has managed to do just that: to parry the dirty and inhuman attacks to which he was subjected throughout the election campaign with elegance. The polite and dignified manner in which he conducted his political battle made an impression - both on the people who would have voted for him anyway and on a significant proportion of those who might not have.”
Reuniting a fragmented country
Romania is divided, warns La Stampa:
“The new president faces a complicated task. Moderates on the right and left have rallied voters behind the European Union, but Dan must not forget that there remains a significant portion of the population, especially in the most remote and isolated regions of the country, that has expressed criticism and anger towards the EU. Eighteen years after Romania joined the bloc, the country is still seen as the home of entrenched elites and the privileged. ... In post-election Romania, the winds of crisis and protest continue to blow: it is now up to the winner to reunite a fragmented country.”
In the service of a modern European state
The head of state doesn't have to be the public's darling, Libertatea points out:
“The task of the head of state is to ensure the democratic future of the country, consolidate the rule of law, and guarantee the citizens' rights and prosperity. In this context Nicușor Dan must now act quickly and without hesitation. ... Romania does not need a president for all Romanians, it needs a president who serves the aspirations of a European, modern, prosperous and educated Romania. Nicușor Dan was not the mayor of all Bucharest residents, but that doesn't mean he was not a good mayor. He made difficult but correct decisions. He must do the same in the presidential palace.”