With Nicusor Dan new president, the Romanian start – Liberation

An unexpected victory, welcome breathing. The success of Nicusor Dan to the presidential election in Romania is undoubtedly very good news for those who thought the pro-European camp condemned in the face of the development of nationalists within the European Union. For those also feared destabilization from outside-whether from Russia, or even from the United States. The defeat of the ultra-nationalist George Simion, yet given favorite, deprives a new ally the Euroian camp of the Italian Giorgia Meloni and the Hungarian Viktor Orban, in their nucleteering strategy of the twenty-seven. The profile of the winner, mayor of the capital Bucharest, gives hope. This atypical politician knew how to mobilize the electorate by presenting the election as a real geopolitical battle. « It is not a debate between individuals but a debate between a pro-Western direction for Romania and an anti-Western direction », he said. The participation rate-65 %-testifies to a real burst of voters, on the spot as in the diaspora, which proved to be less pro-Simion than in the first round.

However, the victory seemed acquired by George Simion. The far -right candidate had displayed his antieuropian views, his rejection of military aid to Ukraine and his passion for Donald Trump. He was present in Washington during the inauguration of the American president in January, and had adopted « Make Romania Great Again » for campaign slogan. From there to think that Donald Trump had a rejecting effect?

Always in the East, in Poland, will soon be an election to the similar issue. Another mayor, that of Warsaw, also pro-European, arrived at the top of the first round of the presidential election on Sunday. But Rafal Trzaskowski will have to face a difficult second round against the conservative candidate. In Portugal, the legislative elections of the weekend confirmed the push of the far right as the third political force of the country. The European camp may have won a battle, but not war.