Romania Rejects Moscow’s Proxy as Nicușor Dan Wins Presidency
Romania has delivered a decisive blow to Russian influence in Eastern Europe by electing Nicușor Dan as president, defeating far-right nationalist George Simion, who was widely viewed as a pro-Moscow candidate. With 94% of ballots counted, Dan leads with 56.9% of the vote—a strong endorsement of his pro-European, anti-corruption platform and a public repudiation of Kremlin-aligned populism.
Dan, a mathematician with a PhD from the Sorbonne and a record of perfect scores in international math competitions, ran on a platform that emphasized deeper EU integration, alignment with NATO, and strengthening democratic institutions. His opponent, Simion, had led the first round with 40.96% and campaigned on an isolationist, anti-Brussels platform while opposing military aid to Ukraine—positions that closely mirrored Kremlin propaganda.
Suspicions of Russian interference loomed over the election. Romania had previously annulled its 2024 presidential vote after investigators uncovered evidence of a coordinated foreign influence campaign. According to the BBC, 25,000 TikTok accounts were activated to amplify the candidacy of far-right figure Călin Georgescu. One account alone reportedly spent $381,000 promoting pro-Kremlin narratives. Romanian intelligence services estimated that Russian actors invested hundreds of millions of dollars into digital influence operations, primarily through TikTok and Telegram, to bolster candidates like Simion.
Romania’s electoral shift is part of a broader regional pattern of resistance to Russian influence. In Moldova, Maia Sandu defeated pro-Russian candidate Alexandr Stoianoglo in 2024 despite a Kremlin-backed campaign led by sanctioned oligarch Ilan Shor. Sandu’s win was powered by more than 80% support from the Moldovan diaspora, according to Reuters.
Russia’s failures are not limited to Eastern Europe. In Syria, a longstanding Russian ally, Bashar al-Assad’s regime is increasingly unstable. The Council on Foreign Relations notes that U.S.-backed opposition forces continue to erode regime control. Russia’s military presence has failed to reverse these losses, while repeated use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime has further damaged Moscow’s global standing.
Dan’s win now places Romania alongside Moldova in forming a pro-European front committed to resisting Russian subversion. His campaign drew symbolic support from voters and influencers alike. One viral X post showed photos of Dan and Sandu captioned, “Dream team! Sorbonne and Harvard!”—a nod to their academic credentials and shared vision for the region.
Dan has already stated that Romania will play an active role in future peace negotiations regarding Ukraine, making clear that Bucharest will not stand passively in the face of Russian aggression. As Moscow suffers setbacks in Syria, Moldova, and now Romania, the trajectory of Eastern Europe becomes increasingly clear: democratic, integrated, and Western-facing.