Pro-EU centrist wins Romania’s tense presidential race over hard-right nationalist

Pro-EU centrist wins Romania’s tense presidential race over hard-right nationalist
Romanian presidential candidate Nicusor Dan waves to his supporters after polls closed for the second round of the country's presidential election redo in Bucharest early Monday. (AP)
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Updated 19 May 2025
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Pro-EU centrist wins Romania’s tense presidential race over hard-right nationalist

Pro-EU centrist wins Romania’s tense presidential race over hard-right nationalist

BUCHAREST, Romania: Pro-European Union candidate Nicusor Dan has won Romania’s closely watched presidential runoff against a hard-right nationalist, nearly complete electoral data shows. A huge turnout Sunday played a key role in the tense election that many viewed as a geopolitical choice between East or West.

The race pitted front-runner George Simion, the 38-year-old leader of the hard-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, or AUR, against Dan, the incumbent mayor of Bucharest. It was held months after the cancelation of the previous election plunged Romania into its worst political crisis in decades.

After 10.7 million of 11.6 million votes were counted, Dan was ahead with 54.19 percent, while Simion trailed at 45.81 percent, according to official data. In the first-round vote on May 4, Simion won almost double the votes as Dan, and many local surveys had predicted he would secure the presidency.

But in a swing that appeared to be a repudiation of Simion’s more skeptical approach to the EU, which Romania joined in 2007, Dan picked up almost 900,000 more votes to solidly defeat his opponent in the final round.

Thousands gathered outside Dan’s headquarters near Bucharest City Hall to await the final results, chanting “Nicusor!” Each time his lead widened as more results came in, the crowd, many waving the flags of Europe, would erupt in cheers.

Higher voter turnout than in first round

When voting closed at 9 p.m. local time (1800 GMT), official electoral data showed a 64 percent voter turnout. About 1.64 million Romanians abroad at specially set-up polling stations participated in the vote, some 660,000 more than in the first round. In the first round on May 4, the final turnout stood at 53 percent of eligible voters.

Dan told the media that “elections are not about politicians” but about communities and that in Sunday’s vote, “a community of Romanians has won, a community that wants a profound change in Romania.”

“When Romania goes through difficult times, let us remember the strength of this Romanian society,” he said. “There is also a community that lost today’s elections. A community that is rightly outraged by the way politics has been conducted in Romania up to now.”

Shortly after 11 p.m., Dan emerged onto the balcony of his headquarters and waved to his thousands of supporters who had gathered along the length of a boulevard in central Bucharest, eliciting an ecstatic roar from the crowd.

At the raucous rally, Ruxandra Gheorghiu told The Associated Press that she felt overwhelmed by the result.

“I was so scared that our European force is near the end … we are still in Europe and we are not fighting for this right,” she said. “I cannot explain the feeling right now.”

Romania’s political landscape was upended last year when a top court voided the previous election in which far-right outsider Calin Georgescu topped first-round polls, following allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference, which Moscow denied.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sent her “warmest congratulations” to Dan and noted that Romanians “turned out massively” to vote. “They have chosen the promise of an open, prosperous Romania in a strong Europe,” she said in a post on X. “Together let’s deliver on that promise.”

Dan, a 55-year-old mathematician who rose to prominence as a civic activist fighting against illegal real estate projects. In 2026, he founded the reformist Save Romania Union party but later left, and ran independently on a pro-European Union ticket reaffirming Western ties, support for Ukraine and fiscal reform.

Standing on the steps of Romania’s colossal Communist-era parliament building after polls closed, Simion had predicted a victory, and said that Georgescu was “supposed to be the president” before last year’s election was annulled.

He also called for vigilance against election fraud, but said that overall he was satisfied with the conduct of the vote.

 




Supporters of presidential candidate Nicusor Dan react to exit polls of Romania's second round of the presidential election, in Bucharest, Romania, on May 19, 2025. (REUTERS)

What’s going on in Romania?

Years of endemic corruption and growing anger toward Romania’s political establishment have fueled a surge in support for anti-establishment and hard-right figures, reflecting a broader pattern across Europe. Both Simion and Dan have made their political careers railing against Romania’s old political class.

Cristian Andrei, a Bucharest-based political consultant, told the AP that Romanians “rejected hate and reactionary politics and embraced the pro-western direction” for their country.

“It is a win for the optimistic Romania, but there is a large part of voters that are really upset with the direction of the country,” he said. “Romania comes out of this election very divided, with a totally new political landscape, where older political parties are challenged to adapt to a new reality.”

In the lead-up to Sunday’s vote, Simion’s rhetoric had raised some concerns that he wouldn’t respect the outcome if he lost. In the early afternoon, he told reporters that his team was confident in a “landslide victory,” if the election was “free and fair.”

However, he repeated allegations of voting irregularities among Romanian citizens in neighboring Moldova and said that his party members would conduct a parallel vote count after polls closed. He told The Associated Press that the ballot so far had proceeded properly.

Adrian Nadin, a 51-year-old musician who supported Georgescu in the previous election, said that he chose Simion. “A part of Romania prefers conservatism,” he said.

“It is very important because the next president will be our image in Europe, and (decide) how Romania will evolve in the next five years,” said Luminita Petrache, a 32-year-old financial crimes analyst. “I hope for changes in Romania in good ways.”

What’s ahead?

The president is elected for a five-year term and has significant decision-making powers in matters of national security and foreign policy. The winner of Sunday’s race 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.

After coming fourth in last year’s canceled race, Simion backed Georgescu, who was banned in March from running in the election redo. Simion then surged to front-runner in the May 4 first round after becoming the standard-bearer for the hard right.

A former activist who campaigned for reunification with neighboring Moldova, Simion says he would focus on reforms: slashing red tape and reducing bureaucracy and taxes. Still, he insists that restoring democracy is his priority, returning “the will of the people.”

His AUR party says it stands for “family, nation, faith, and freedom” and rose to prominence in a 2020 parliamentary election. It has since grown to become the second-largest party in the Romanian legislature.


Hong Kong hit by strong winds, heavy rain as Typhoon Wipha skirts past

Hong Kong hit by strong winds, heavy rain as Typhoon Wipha skirts past
Updated 4 min 19 sec ago
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Hong Kong hit by strong winds, heavy rain as Typhoon Wipha skirts past

Hong Kong hit by strong winds, heavy rain as Typhoon Wipha skirts past
  • Neighboring casino hub Macau issued its own top-level typhoon warning shortly after noon
  • More than 250 people sought refuge at government-run temporary shelters

HONG KONG: Hong Kong was battered by strong winds and heavy rain on Sunday as Typhoon Wipha skirted along China’s southern coast, with fallen trees and collapsed scaffolding spotted across the city.

Wipha was located around 140 kilometers (87 miles) to Hong Kong’s southwest as of 5 p.m. (0900 GMT), according to the city’s weather observatory.

Hong Kong’s highest tropical cyclone warning, T10, was in effect for around seven hours but was downgraded to the third-highest T8 warning at 4:10 p.m. as Wipha departed the city.

“Gale to storm force southeasterly winds are still affecting parts of the territory occasionally,” the observatory said.

“The intense rainbands of Wipha are persistently affecting the vicinity of Pearl River Estuary.”

Neighboring casino hub Macau issued its own top-level typhoon warning shortly after noon, with authorities suspending all public transportation services.

China’s Hainan and Guangdong provinces were earlier put on high alert, according to state news agency Xinhua.

In Hong Kong, more than 250 people sought refuge at government-run temporary shelters.

Officials said they received more than 450 reports of fallen trees and a handful of flooding reports, including at a main thoroughfare in the Wong Tai Sin district.

A representative from Hong Kong’s Airport Authority earlier said that around 500 flights have been canceled due to the weather, while around 400 flights were scheduled to take off or land later in the day.

Authorities suspended Sunday’s classes at all day schools and daycare centers.

Local trains offered limited services while operations in open sections were suspended.

Wipha also brought heavy rains and flooding to the Philippines, where two people have been reported missing, according to the country’s National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

Hong Kong last hoisted the T10 warning signal for Super Typhoon Saola in 2023.


Iranians told to use less water as heatwave worsens shortages

Iranians told to use less water as heatwave worsens shortages
Updated 12 min 10 sec ago
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Iranians told to use less water as heatwave worsens shortages

Iranians told to use less water as heatwave worsens shortages
  • Iranian authorities have urged residents to limit water consumption as the country grapples with severe shortages amid an ongoing heatwave, local media said Sunday

TEHRAN: Iranian authorities have urged residents to limit water consumption as the country grapples with severe shortages amid an ongoing heatwave, local media said Sunday.

Water scarcity is a major issue in Iran, particularly in arid provinces in the country’s south, with shortages blamed on mismanagement and overexploitation of underground resources as well as the growing impact of climate change.

On Saturday, the national meteorological service said Iran was experiencing its hottest week of the year so far, with temperatures exceeding 50C in some areas.

“People should conserve water to avoid drops in pressure,” said Tehran city council chair Mehdi Chamran, according to the ISNA news agency.

Authorities across Iran have issued similar appeals in recent days, asking residents in several provinces to limit water usage.

Tehran’s provincial water management company called to reduce usage by “at least 20 percent” to help ease the shortages.

In a statement, it said that “the reservoirs of the dams supplying water to Tehran are currently at their lowest level in a century” following years of steady decline in rainfall.

Javan, a conservative newspaper, reported on Saturday that authorities had reduced water pressure in parts of the capital in a bid to mitigate the crisis, resulting in “water outages lasting between 12 and 18 hours” in some areas.


Saudi reserve assets rise to $459bn in May on foreign deposit surge 

Saudi reserve assets rise to $459bn in May on foreign deposit surge 
Updated 26 min 28 sec ago
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Saudi reserve assets rise to $459bn in May on foreign deposit surge 

Saudi reserve assets rise to $459bn in May on foreign deposit surge 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s official reserve assets reached SR1.72 trillion ($459 billion) in May, marking a roughly 4.5 percent increase from the previous month. 

Data from the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, shows the reserve boost was primarily driven by a jump in foreign currency and deposits held abroad, which surged 15.5 percent from April to SR671.27 billion — the highest level in nearly six years. 

The rise in reserves comes as Saudi Arabia navigates a shifting global economic landscape marked by volatile oil prices and rising project-driven imports. 

While oil revenues remain a core contributor to external inflows, the Kingdom has also seen growing non-oil export activity and expanding tourism receipts under its Vision 2030 diversification push.   

These factors, along with disciplined financial account management, have supported external balances and bolstered reserve accumulation, even as the current account surplus narrows.  

Despite this sharp monthly uptick, reserves were still about 2 percent lower compared to May of the previous year, according to SAMA data. 

The central bank’s largest reserve component — investments in foreign securities — fell by roughly 2 percent month on month to around SR955 billion.   

Together, these two categories — foreign currency deposits abroad and foreign securities — accounted for approximately 94.5 percent of Saudi Arabia’s total reserve assets in May.  

This suggests a deliberate allocation of reserves into more liquid foreign deposits, even as longer-term foreign securities slightly declined. Shifting more funds into overseas bank deposits could enhance liquidity, allowing the Kingdom quicker access to reserves when needed.   

Other components include monetary gold, which has remained unchanged at SR1.62 billion since 2008; Special Drawing Rights, or SDRs, steady at SR80.16 billion; and Saudi Arabia’s reserve position at the International Monetary Fund, totaling SR12.65 billion.  

The IMF reserve position reflects the amount the Kingdom can access on demand from the fund without any conditions attached. 

According to a January report from Fitch Ratings, in 2024, Saudi Arabia had strong foreign financial reserves. It could cover 14.4 months’ worth of imports and external payments using its reserves — well above the average of around 2 months for countries with a similar credit rating.  

Also, Saudi Arabia’s net foreign assets — total assets abroad minus external liabilities — stood at 63.7 percent of gross domestic product, compared to an average of just 8.7 percent for other “A”-rated countries. This highlights the Kingdom’s robust financial cushion.   

Overall, the rise in reserves to SR1.72 trillion, driven by strategic allocation to foreign deposits and sustained by prudent reserve management, signals continued resilience and confidence in Saudi Arabia’s economic fundamentals. This upward trend also enhances the Kingdom’s ability to absorb external shocks, maintain currency stability, and support long-term investment goals aligned with Vision 2030.  


Egypt uncovers Brotherhood-linked plot to target security and economic facilities: ministry

Egypt uncovers Brotherhood-linked plot to target security and economic facilities: ministry
Updated 5 min 9 sec ago
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Egypt uncovers Brotherhood-linked plot to target security and economic facilities: ministry

Egypt uncovers Brotherhood-linked plot to target security and economic facilities: ministry
  • Egypt’s Interior Ministry said Hasm plotted to push one of its fugitive members to infiltrate the country via a border state in order to target security and economic facilities

CAIRO: The Egyptian interior ministry on Sunday said it has uncovered a plot by the armed wing of the Muslim Brotherhood group aiming to target security and economic facilities.

According to a press statement by Egypt’s Interior Ministry, elements who plotted the attacks were linked to the so-called Hasm Movement, which was affiliated with the banned Muslim Brotherhood.

It said Hasm plotted to push one of its fugitive members to infiltrate the country via a border state in order to commit “hostile operations targeting security and economic facilities in Egypt.”

The statement said Egypt’s National Security sector was able to identify the Hasm leaders behind the plan. It also reported that some members of Hasm were targeted in a security operation in Cairo's Boulaq neighborhood. 

It named Yahya al-Sayed Moussa as one of the plot organizers and among Hasm's most prominent founders. 

The group is labelled as a terrorist entity in both the United Kingdom and the United States.


Eritrean president warns Ethiopia against waging war

Eritrean president warns Ethiopia against waging war
Updated 59 min 3 sec ago
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Eritrean president warns Ethiopia against waging war

Eritrean president warns Ethiopia against waging war
  • At the heart of the current tension, according to the Eritrean government, is landlocked Ethiopia’s long-held desire for a seaport.

NAIROBI: Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki has warned neighbor Ethiopia against launching a new war between the bitter foes, with tensions high in the Horn of Africa region.

Eritrea and Ethiopia have had fraught relations since the former declared independence in 1993, with tens of thousands of people killed in a war between the two from 1998 to 2000.

At the heart of the current tension, according to the Eritrean government, is landlocked Ethiopia’s long-held desire for a seaport.

Afwerki, who has ruled Eritrea with an iron fist since independence, warned Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed that he would not be able to simply overwhelm his country by weight of numbers — Ethiopia’s population is 130 million, compared to just 3.5 million people living in Eritrea.

“If he thinks he can overwhelm (Eritrean forces) with human wave attack, (he is mistaken),” Afwerki told state television channel Eri-TV.

“Before dragging the people of Ethiopia into unwanted wars or using them for another political agenda, the country’s internal problems must be first addressed and solved,” he said.

He called Abiy’s actions a “reckless” attempt to “divert attention” from domestic problems.

Abiy signed a peace deal with Afwerki shortly after coming to power in 2018, but a violent conflict erupted in Ethiopia’s Tigray province from 2020 to 2022 as Eritrea’s forces backed rebels there fighting Ethiopian troops.

At least 600,000 people were killed in the conflict, according to an African Union estimate.

Although a peace deal ended the fighting, Eritrea has maintained a military presence in Tigray and relations between the neighbors have deteriorated.

Abiy has repeatedly said Ethiopia must have access to the sea, but by peaceful means.

Last month, a report by a US monitoring group accused Eritrea of rebuilding its army and destabilising its neighbors.

Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Ghebremeskel criticized the report by NGO The Sentry and blamed “the new tension in the region” on Ethiopia.

Eritrea had been under US arms sanctions that were lifted after the 2018 peace deal.

Eritrea is a single-party state which consistently ranks among the worst in the world for rights — in last place for press freedom, according to Reporters Without Borders, and 175th out of 183 for human development in 2022, according to the United Nations.