President Elekt Romania will support Rafał Trzaskowski. Who is Nicusor Dan?
Nicusor Dan speaks slowly, weighing every word, as if the future of civilization depended on it. Perhaps it is the greatest the hope of the West not to lose Romania. The 55-year-old mayor of Bucharest, known for the fight against corruption, won the presidential election in the sixth in terms of the population of the European Union country.
Earlier, voting caused a constitutional crisis and a wave of indignation among the leading figures of US President Donald Trump.
In December last year, the presidential election in Romania was annulled in connection with the allegations that Russian interference, dubious financing and a highly suspicious campaign on Tiktok unjustly amounted to the first place to the first place of the little -known, sympathizing with Moscow extremely right -wing outsider – Calina Georgescu.
However, despite the allegations of the interference of Georgescu, he remained, according to polls on the wave of popularity and was on the right track to victory in repeated elections in May, until the election authorities went a step further and did not prohibit him from participating in the election.
The Vice President of the USA JD Vance and supporter of Trump Elon Musk used Romania as an example of bad practices in European politics, condemning the suppression of Georgescu as a parody of democracy.
Romanian dissatisfaction
In an interview with Politico Dan, he decided not to respond sharply to the US interventions, which he assigns ignorance. According to him, Vance and Musk simply do not have enough information about what happened to be able to assess the situation fairly – and this is not just their fault.
In the last election, another far -right politician – George Simion also ran. In the vote at the stake the future development direction of the 19-million country, which borders with Ukraine and is the headquarters for the important NATO base-and all this at a delicate moment for the Western alliance.
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Simon's victory would have a huge impact on EU policy: a new politician in the style of Viktor Orban, exercising power in a country twice as many as Hungary, would strengthen the influence nationalism in European policy.
“I think that in Romanian society there is dissatisfaction that was dormant for a long time,” Dan said in an interview with Politico. – We have a huge number of people who are aware and express the belief that It can't be like that. There are people who say that every alternative is better than the current system.
Mathematician pro -Western
Dan is a talented mathematician, a two -time winner of the maximum number of points in the prestigious competition of the International Mathematical Olympics. He is also an avid philosophy student. His image contrasts with Georgescu, who appeared on a thicket in a traditional horse outfit and boasted that he did not need a party, because his party is Romania.
Dan is involved in Supporting Ukraine against Russia and maintaining alliances of Romania with the West, including full commitment to NATO and EU. He believes that America and Europe are naturally standing on the same side.
“The United States and Europe are part of the same model of civilization that is contrary to other models of civilization,” he said. – So we must be together in this conflict of civilization.
He is worried, however, that Trump gives Russian President Vladimir Putin too much freedom in the pursuit of peace in Ukraine. The politician calls on the US president to balance his approach to conversations.
– The pursuit of peace in Ukraine is very justified. Everyone wants it – said Dan. – Looking at the reaction of the United States administration, we see great pressure on the Ukrainian side, but We do not see similar pressure on the Russian side. If you are the administration of the United States and you want to put pressure on the Russian side, you can talk about financial sanctions, the price of oil and all these matters, but I have not seen it.
“In Romania, we have strong memories of what Russia means”
– The way the war in Ukraine ends is of great importance for the future security of Romania and Europe. The pressure exerted on both sides was not balanced and I think Putin is in a better international situation than a month ago – added the politician.
An investigation is underway on what exactly happened during the first round of elections in Romania last year. Dan described voting as a “great failure” of state institutions responsible for the protection of democracy. He is frustrated by the fact that the authorities have still not presented a full report on the course of events, leaving the field for speculation.
Nicusor Dan, May 18, 2025Daniel Mihalescu / AFP
During the Cold War, under the rule of Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu, Romania kept distance from the power of Moscow. Bucharest remained skeptical of the Soviet Empire, and at the same time maintained contacts with the West. This story will not escape Putin's attention, just like Dan.
“In Romania, we have strong memories of what Russia means,” Dan said. – I think that the Russian regime and Putin tried to destabilize the democratic system in Romania, as well as in the rest of this side of Europe. This is part of the hybrid war, which he is leading against Europe.
Anti -system politician
Putin's agents allegedly carried out a huge surgery, which eventually ended, trying to influence last year's presidential election in neighboring Moldova. If Russian interference in the election in Romania is confirmed, it will be a “good opportunity” to educate Romanians about the dangers of disinformation and how malicious actors can use social media to destabilize societies – said Dan.
As a politician, he became famous The fight against corruption and restoration of the credibility of the administration of the capital of Romania.
“In a sense I am an anti -system politician,” he said. – I think that people see me with a criticism of the current political system, and on the other hand honesty, which they do not see in other politicians. In my opinion, personality is more important than the program.
Dan never wanted to be a politician, but eventually he founded the party – the relationship between Romania's salvation – because he decided that he was needed new direction. However, it does not seem sentimentally to approach politics and left the party to become an independent candidate.
“If I didn't deal with politics, I would be a mathematician,” he said. – Many people do not understand that mathematics is very similar to some kind of art, literature. It is discovering and constructing a kind of object. This is of course very rational, but discovering things also requires intensive work with the subconscious.
“What defines me is a great curiosity about getting to know myself, the world and my country,” Dan summed up.
