Nicusor Dan wins Romanian presidential run-off: final results

BUCHAREST, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan garnered 53.6 percent of the vote in Sunday's presidential run-off, according to final results released by the Central Election Bureau (BEC) on Monday.

George Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), followed closely with 46.4 percent of votes.

Dan, a 55-year-old independent candidate, received 6,168,642 votes, while Simion, 38, garnered 5,339,053, the BEC reported. The results were based on data from all 19,945 polling stations in Romania and abroad, with 100 percent of the votes counted.

A total of 11,641,999 citizens participated in the run-off, marking a turnout of 64.72 percent of the registered electorate. Of the total ballots cast, 11,507,695 were declared valid, accounting for 98.85 percent of all votes.

The final results will be submitted to the Constitutional Court for validation later in the day.

Running on a pro-EU platform, Dan pledged to strengthen rule-of-law reforms, maintain military and diplomatic support for Ukraine, and deepen Romania's ties with the West.

Simion campaigned on a "Romania First" platform, advocating for tax cuts, reduced EU influence, and less military aid to Ukraine.

Under Romania's constitution, the president is elected every five years and may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms. Enditem