logo
Who is Nicusor Dan, the pro-EU centrist who beat a nationalist in Romania's tense presidential race?

Who is Nicusor Dan, the pro-EU centrist who beat a nationalist in Romania's tense presidential race?

Yahoo19-05-2025
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Nicusor Dan, the former civic activist and pro-European Union centrist politician who defied the odds to decisively defeat a hard-right nationalist in Romania's critical presidential race, has emerged as a counterforce to the right-wing populist wave sweeping across Europe.
Final results from the presidential race showed Dan, the mayor of Bucharest, winning 53.6% of the vote over the hard-right candidate George Simion, who had been considered the favorite in the run-off, boosted in the first round by his nationalist messaging.
Sunday's final vote was held months after the annulment of the previous election plunged Romania into its worst political crisis in decades, following the surprise first-round success of far-right outsider Calin Georgescu.
In an emotional speech after he secured the presidency, Dan told thousands of supporters gathered outside his headquarters near Bucharest City Hall that 'Romania begins a new chapter, and it needs every one of you.'
'It needs experts to get involved in various public policies, it needs people in civil society, it needs new people in politics,' the 55-year-old said. 'We have a Romania to build together, regardless of political choices.'
Who is Nicusor Dan?
Born in 1969 in Romania's central town of Fagaras, Dan discovered 'a passion' for mathematics in middle school and excelled academically. In the late 1980s, he won gold medals at the International Mathematics Olympiad, and in 1998 he obtained a doctorate in mathematics from Paris' prestigious Sorbonne University.
In the late 90s, he returned to Romania, saying he was convinced his country needed him. 'I started organizing meetings with Romanian students in Paris in which we discussed what we could do to ensure that Romania took the right path as a country,' he states on his official website.
He then worked as a mathematics researcher at the Romanian Academy, the country's supreme scientific body, and later founded a school in Bucharest to meet the needs of Romanian students at an international level.
Dan first rose to public prominence as a civil activist with his Save Bucharest Association. That was tasked with saving built heritage and fighting against illegal real estate projects in green spaces, in a system he described as a 'real estate mafia.' He won hundreds of lawsuits.
He has two children with his partner, and is fluent in English and French.
What does Dan stand for?
More than a decade ago, Dan joined a protest movement against a controversial gold mining project by a Canadian company in a mountainous western region of Romania that contains some of Europe's largest gold deposits. He also joined a wave of anti-corruption protests that gripped Romania through the mid-2010s.
In 2016, he then founded the reformist Save Romania Union party — at the time largely viewed as an anti-corruption party — but later left. In 2020, he successfully secured the mayorship of Bucharest and was elected for a second term last year.
He has tackled some key infrastructure projects, such as modernizing Bucharest's ailing residential heating systems, which previous mayors have been accused of neglecting.
In the presidential election rerun, Dan ran independently on an 'Honest Romania' ticket, reaffirming Western ties, support for Ukraine, and fiscal reform. He has also been vocal against endemic corruption and promised fiscal reforms.
Romania's chaotic election cycle has exposed deep societal divisions, and Dan reached out in his speech Sunday evening to those who favored Simion.
'We have a Romania to build together, regardless of political choices,' he said.
After Dan is sworn in as president, he will face the challenge of nominating a prime minister who can garner the support necessary to form a government, no small task in a country whose political landscape is now fragmented.
Does he have the right experience?
As winner of Sunday's race, Dan will be charged with nominating a new prime minister after Marcel Ciolacu stepped down following the failure of his coalition's candidate to advance to the runoff. The presidential role carries a five-year term and significant decision-making powers in national security and foreign policy.
Many observers saw Sunday's vote as crucial to maintaining Romania's place within Western alliances, especially as the war continues in neighboring Ukraine and the continent scrambles to arm itself as the United States' commitment to European partners has waned under US President Donald Trump.
While Dan is a staunch advocate for Romania's strong membership of the EU and NATO, his civic and political background means he has limited foreign policy experience.
Claudiu Tufis, an associate professor of political science at the University of Bucharest, says what makes Dan unique in Romania is that he's 'not taken the traditional route to being a politician, he's coming from the civil society.'
'There are certain advantages, but there are also certain disadvantages,' he told The Associated Press. 'He doesn't really have any foreign affairs experience. I am not sure that he actually paid a lot of interest to what was happening outside Romania.'
'What I know for sure is that … even though he may not be the best, he's probably the best of what we had in front of us.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

How France's recognition of the state of Palestine could shift Middle East dynamics
How France's recognition of the state of Palestine could shift Middle East dynamics

Chicago Tribune

time27 minutes ago

  • Chicago Tribune

How France's recognition of the state of Palestine could shift Middle East dynamics

PARIS — France's bold decision to recognize the state of Palestine could help to shift conversations about the future of the Middle East, even if it's unlikely to have an immediate impact for people in Gaza or on Israel's war with Hamas. In a world where nations are again using military force to impose their will on others — notably Russia in Ukraine, and the U.S. and Israel with their recent strikes on Iran and its nuclear facilities — French President Emmanuel Macron is attempting to strike a blow for diplomacy and the idea that war rarely brings peace. With less than two years left of his second and last term as president, Macron also has his legacy to think about. Not acting decisively as a humanitarian disaster unfolds in Gaza could be a stain when history books are written. Macron has levers to influence world affairs as leader of a nuclear-armed, economically and diplomatically powerful country that also sits at the big table at the United Nations, as one of the five permanent members of its security council. Being the first member of the G7 group of industrialized nations to take this leap carries domestic risks. Presiding over a country with both Europe's largest Jewish population and largest Muslim population, Macron is on a public opinion tightrope. His words will please some voters but infuriate others — a fact reflected by deeply divided political reactions in France to his decision announced on X on Thursday evening. But after staunchly backing Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas and its Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war, Macron is signaling that France's support can only go so far. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the shift by one of his country's closer allies in Europe. 'Such a move rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became,' he said in a statement. 'A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel — not to live in peace beside it.'' The idea that Palestinians and Israelis could live side by side in peace in their own states has perhaps never looked more unrealistic — with Gaza in ruins and the occupied West Bank facing increasing settlement by Israelis. Macron's words alone won't change that. Still, the French leader's message is that the hope of a 'two-state solution' achieved through diplomacy must not be allowed to die — however unattainable it may seem. 'This solution is the only path that can address the legitimate aspirations of both the Israelis and the Palestinians. It must now be brought about as quickly as possible,' Macron said in a letter to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas which confirmed his decision to recognize Palestine as a state. 'The prospect of a negotiated solution to the conflict in the Middle East seems increasingly distant. I cannot resign myself to that,' he said. The first impacts are likeliest not in Gaza but in world capitals where leaders may face pressure or feel emboldened to follow France's lead. Attention is focusing on other G7 nations, because of their economic and diplomatic sway. 'Macron's declaration could create a precedent because it would be the first Western country in the G7 to do so, which could have the effect of leading others,' said David Rigoulet-Roze, a researcher at the French Institute of Strategic Analysis. Although more than 140 countries recognize Palestine as a state, France will be the biggest, most populous and most powerful among those in Europe that have taken this step. 'It creates some small momentum,' said Yossi Mekelberg, a senior consulting fellow at the Chatham House think tank in London who also added, however, that 'this is not enough.' 'France should be congratulated, and Macron should be congratulated for doing that and showing the courage,' he said. Until now, China and Russia were the only permanent members of the U.N. Security Council that recognized Palestinian statehood. France will join them when Macron makes good on his promise in September at the U.N. General Assembly. The new trio will leave the U.S. and the U.K. in a security council minority as its only permanent members that don't recognize Palestine as a state. The so-called P5 nations are divided on many other issues — including Ukraine, trade and climate change — so France's shift isn't, in itself, likely to spur radical and rapid change for Palestinians. Still, if only mathematically, the U.S. — Israel's most important ally — and the U.K could find themselves more isolated among the big powers in any discussions on solutions for the Middle East. U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed Macron's decision on Friday, saying 'What he says doesn't matter. It's not going to change anything.' France may have better traction with the U.K. Putting Brexit behind them, the U.K. and France are now drawing closer, most notably in support for Ukraine. If British Prime Minister Keir Starmer follows Macron's example, Trump could become the odd man out on Palestinian statehood among the security council's big five powers. Starmer has signaled growing disquiet over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying in a statement Thursday that suffering and starvation there 'is unspeakable and indefensible.' But he doesn't seem ready to take a leap like Macron, suggesting that fighting must stop first. 'Statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people,' Starmer said. 'A ceasefire will put us on a path to the recognition of a Palestinian state and a two-state solution.'

Cameroon's election board bars main opposition candidate from presidential race
Cameroon's election board bars main opposition candidate from presidential race

San Francisco Chronicle​

timean hour ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

Cameroon's election board bars main opposition candidate from presidential race

YAOUNDE, Cameroon (AP) — Cameroon 's electoral commission on Saturday rejected the candidacy of Maurice Kamto in the upcoming presidential election, fueling fears of unrest and increasing the likelihood of another Biya victory. Kamto, a former government minister, is seen as the main challenger to long-serving President Paul Biya. The electoral commission, ELECAM, said it approved 13 presidential candidates, excluding Kamto. No reason was given. Biya is included. Kamto, who has two days to appeal, was considered Biya's strongest rival in past elections. He came second during the last presidential election in 2018 with 14% of the vote, while Biya cruised to victory with over 70% in an election marred by irregularities and a low turnout. Biya, 92, the world's oldest serving head of state, said last month he would seek reelection on Oct. 12 despite rumors that his health is failing. He has been in power since 1982, nearly half his lifetime. Biya's rule has left a lasting impact on Cameroon. His government has faced various challenges, including allegations of corruption and a deadly secessionist conflict in the nation's English-speaking provinces that has forced thousands out of school. Security forces were deployed around the ELECAM headquarters and along major roads in Yaoundé, the capital, and in Douala, the economic hub. The United Nations Department of Safety and Security had warned Friday that the announcement could trigger protests in the capital.

Drivers vs. cyclists: a battle for the streets in Canada's largest city
Drivers vs. cyclists: a battle for the streets in Canada's largest city

Boston Globe

timean hour ago

  • Boston Globe

Drivers vs. cyclists: a battle for the streets in Canada's largest city

Then came the backlash. Some of the most popular bike lanes were making Toronto's notorious traffic worse, according to the provincial government. So, Doug Ford, premier of Toronto's province, Ontario, signed a law to rip out 14 miles of the lanes from three major streets that serve the core of the city. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow arrived for her first day in office two years ago riding a bike. She was not pleased with the law, arguing that the city had sole discretion to decide street rules. Chow did not respond to a request to comment. But in public remarks, she has since softened her tone, suggesting it was possible to have a 'win-win solution' by relocating some bike lanes or keeping them in place while adding more driving lanes. Advertisement 'We could design them better,' Chow told reporters in April. Bike lanes are a sore point for many drivers frustrated by the constant traffic jams in the heart of Toronto. 'There's so much traffic because of bike lanes,' said Nasser Moradman, who has driven a taxi in Toronto for 30 years. The lanes aren't even used much during the long winter, he complained, adding: 'It's miserable. It's very tough to drive in the city.' Advertisement Cycling proponents and others who vehemently oppose Ford's move mounted a legal challenge, and a provincial court has temporarily barred the removal of any bike lanes until a judge decides if the new law is unconstitutional. Cities across the world, including New York and Paris, have added miles of bike lanes to make streets safer for cyclists and encourage drivers to abandon their vehicles and opt for more climate-friendly modes of travel, such as cycling and public transportation. In some places, the lanes have also set off criticism from drivers and others who say that they have made life worse for people who have to drive, including delivery workers and taxi drivers. President Trump called New York's bike lanes dangerous and claimed that cyclists were 'whacking people.' In Canada, government data show that about an average of 2 million people commute to Toronto by car on workdays. And those commuters contribute to the city's congestion, which ranks second behind Vancouver among Canadian cities, according to TomTom, a global traffic index. Toronto's chronic traffic snarls can come as an unwelcome surprise to some visitors. In February, the Carolina Hurricanes hockey team had to abandon a ride because of traffic and walk the remaining blocks to a downtown arena -- not the first time that professional athletes have had to do that. The problems have cost the Toronto region about about $33 billion in lost productivity per year, according to a report by the Canadian Center for Economic Analysis. 'Congestion has reached crisis levels,' said Giles Gherson, president of the Toronto Board of Trade, which suggested in a report that Toronto 'rebalance' its roads by cutting back street-level parking and moving bike lanes. Advertisement Many commuters also argue that driving into Toronto from the suburbs is often faster than using public transportation, with experts saying that the city lacks enough rapid transit to meet its needs. The provincial government has been criticized for long delays to transit projects. The province says only 1.2 percent of workers commute by bike. For comparison, even in New York City, which has a large system of bike lanes, about 1.4 percent of people commute by bike, according to city figures. The conflict in Toronto has resonated with people such as Sharon Danley, a retiree. She recently joined a citizens group opposing a bike lane on her street, which she said was disruptive and unfair. The lane, she said, slows down a transit bus for people with disabilities. 'Now what we're doing is clogging up lean arteries and causing a lot of harm,' Danley said. In Toronto, where the car has long been king, cyclists have been gaining ground. Toronto added 67 miles of bike lanes between 2020 and 2024 and now has 207 miles of them. The city's bike-share service had 6.9 million rides in 2024, up from 2.9 million in 2020. 'Cycling has become more pleasant,' said Chad Mohr, a food-bank volunteer who delivers groceries by bike. 'Now they're talking about ripping tons of that infrastructure out, which would be a tragedy and just a giant, ridiculous, expensive step backward.' The city spent about $20 million to install the bike lanes that Ontario now wants to eliminate. In a report, it estimates that removing them would cost $35 million. Advertisement Last year, Toronto said a half-dozen cyclists were killed in the city, the highest number in two decades. Between 2016 and 2023, 260 cyclists have been seriously injured, with most crashes on streets with no bike lanes. Removing bike lanes would 'cost people their lives,' said Geoffrey Bercarich, a bike-repair technician who installs memorials called ghost bikes in places where cyclists have been killed. Ford has made it clear that he is not opposed to cyclists or cycling. 'I'm not against bike lanes,' he told reporters in May. 'Build all the bike lanes you want, just not on main arterial roads.'' Cycling proponents argue that the province has not shown any evidence that removing bike lanes will ease traffic. 'This idea that they're somehow the cause of Toronto's traffic woes isn't based on any fact,' said Michael Longfield, executive director of Cycle Toronto, an advocacy group. He was speaking by phone from a hospital, where he was recovering from a fractured leg that he said he sustained while cycling when a driver opened a door into a bike lane. The Ontario government has passed a measure that would protect it from lawsuits by cyclists injured on roads where the province tears out bike lanes. Cycling supporters say the move amounts to a tacit acknowledgment that riders will be hurt if the province is allowed to eliminate bike lanes, said David Shellnutt, a personal-injury lawyer in Toronto specializing in cycling cases. 'It is an admission that, yes, we know that what we're proposing here will result in injury and death,' Shellnutt said, 'and so we're going to insulate ourselves from accountability.' This article originally appeared in Advertisement

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store