Centrist Dan wins Romanian presidency over hard-right pro-Trump rival

Romania's centrist Bucharest mayor, Nicusor Dan, won the country's presidential election on Sunday in a shock upset over a hard-right, nationalist rival who had pledged to put Romania on a path inspired by US President Donald Trump's politics.

Official results from nearly all voting stations showed Dan garnering about 54 per cent of ballots cast by voters in the EU and NATO member country of about 19 million people, while Trump supporter George Simion was at 46 per cent.

Dan, 55, a soft-spoken mathematician, made a last-minute dash to the top in recent days after weeks of trailing Simion, a eurosceptic wanting to end military aid for Ukraine in its war with Russia. The election drew the highest percentage of voter turnout in a Romanian election in 25 years.

Simion, who was the top vote-getter in the first round of the election two weeks ago with 41 per cent of ballots cast, conceded after earlier saying he won the election.

Dan had campaigned on a pledge to fight rampant corruption, to maintain support for Ukraine - where Romania has played an important logistic role - and to keep the country firmly within the European mainstream.

On Sunday evening in the capital Bucharest, Dan supporters chanted "Russia, don't forget, Romania isn't yours". Staunchly pro-EU and NATO, Dan said in the run-up to the election that Romania's support for Ukraine was crucial for its own security against a growing Russian threat.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Dan on his "historic victory," writing on social media: "For Ukraine - as a neighbour and friend - it is important to have Romania as a reliable partner."

The voting in Romania took place on the same day as the first round of a Polish election in which a liberal frontrunner, Rafal Trzaskowski edged ahead of Karol Nawrocki, the candidate backed by the opposition nationalist Law and Justice (PiS) party.

Both elections are being closely watched across Europe amid concern that popular anger with mainstream elites over migration and cost of living pressures could bolster support for Trump and erode unity on the continent over how to deal with Russia.

In Romania, however, the election showed backlash against politicians taking inspiration from right-wing populist Trump's Make American Great Again (MAGA) movement, according to Mujtaba Rahman, managing director for Europe at consultancy Eurasia Group. "This is a really strong result for the pro-European candidate," Rahman said. "It's another example of the positive Trump effect on European election cycles where concerns about the political and policy direction moving in a MAGA-like way have mobilised voters."