After all the sturm und drang over annulled results and canceled candidates in Romania’s madcap, seven-month run at electing a new president, it turns out that the establishment-blessed, independent candidate, Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, walked away as victor after yesterday’s second round of voting.
And the European Union heaved a huge sigh of relief.
Despite ultra-nationalist George Simion, of the AUR party, claiming victory earlier on, Nicusor Dan, the progressive mayor of Bucharest who ran as an independent, looks set to be Romania’s next president, taking 53.82 percent of the second-round vote. Simion came in at 46.18 percent.
“Russia, don’t forget that Romania is not yours!” shouted thousands, chanting Nicușor Dan’s name outside his campaign headquarters, according to the Transtelex news portal.
Dan told his supporters: “Today’s…
