Liberal and pro-European Mayor of Bucharest, Nicușor Dan, has emerged victorious in Romania's presidential election, defeating far-right nationalist challenger George Simion in a closely contested runoff that concluded on Sunday.

Dan secured 53.6% of the vote in what has been described as one of the most dramatic and divisive elections in Romania's recent history. The final results came late into the night, with Dan confirming his win only after midnight as jubilant supporters gathered outside Bucharest City Hall.

"We need to build Romania together, irrespective of who you voted for," Dan said in his victory speech, calling for unity in a country deeply polarized after months of political turmoil.

An estimated 11.5 million Romanians participated in Sunday's decisive second round. The election followed an unprecedented political crisis last year when a previous presidential election was annulled over allegations of Russian interference and campaign fraud after fringe candidate Călin Georgescu unexpectedly topped the polls.

Simion, leader of the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) party, initially refused to concede defeat, claiming late Sunday: "I won, I am the new president of Romania." However, he eventually acknowledged his loss in a Facebook post early Monday, and a planned protest by his supporters was subsequently cancelled.

The electoral contest represented a stark ideological choice for Romanians. Simion campaigned on anti-EU rhetoric and advocated ending Romanian support for Ukraine, while Dan ran on a pro-European platform, promising to combat corruption and strengthen ties with Western allies.

"Russia, don't forget, Romania isn't yours!" chanted Dan's supporters on election night, sending a defiant message amid ongoing Russian aggression in Eastern Europe.

International reactions to Dan's victory were swift and positive. Moldovan President Maia Sandu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered congratulations, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Romanians for choosing "the promise of an open, prosperous Romania in a strong Europe."

Interestingly, Simion performed strongly among the Romanian diaspora in Western Europe, winning majorities in countries like Spain (68.5%), Italy (66.8%), and Germany (67%). However, Dan secured overwhelming support in Moldova, where 87% of Romanian voters backed him.

Despite his defeat, Simion's significant support indicates that his nationalist message resonates with a substantial portion of the Romanian population, particularly those feeling disenfranchised. Throughout his campaign, he denied accusations of being pro-Russian or fascist, describing himself as "a man of my people" and criticizing mainstream media for alleged smear campaigns.

Nicușor Dan now faces the challenging task of uniting a deeply divided country and restoring faith in democratic institutions. He assumes office amid political instability following the collapse of Romania's coalition government, whose candidate failed to reach the second round.

Nevertheless, Dan's victory is widely viewed as a reaffirmation of Romania's pro-European trajectory, a critical stance at a time of regional uncertainty and ongoing conflict in neighboring Ukraine.

"A community of Romanians who want a profound change in Romania won," Dan declared in his victory speech, signaling his commitment to reform and progress in the Eastern European nation.