The failed Presidential election in Romania last year, fuelled by a wave of disinformation, triggered an unprecedented period of political instability in this EU and NATO Member State. A rerun took place on 4 and 18 May 2025, and the Mayor of Bucharest, Nicușor Dan, was elected. We asked MEP Nicu Ștefănuță (Greens/EFA), Vice-President of the European Parliament, what this result means for the future of Romania and its role in the EU, NATO and with regards to supporting Ukraine.
1. Nicușor Dan won the second round of Romania’s presidential election, to the big relief of the EU and Ukraine allies. What are your main takeaways of the election results?
The election results can be summed up in one message: Romanians remain strongly committed to European values and reject ultranationalist, euro-sceptic narratives. The record voter turnout of 64.7% (11.64 million), up from 53.2% (9.57 million) in the first round, showed us a surge in democratic engagement at a critical moment, particularly among youth and diaspora voters. Over 2.5 million young people (18–34) voted, the highest number in recent memory, with nearly half a million voting from abroad. This unprecedented mobilisation reveals a civic urgency to protect democracy, the rule of law, and Romania’s place in the European Union.
Nicușor Dan’s victory is not just a political choice but a generational statement. EU leaders welcomed the result as a reaffirmation of democratic values, while financial markets responded with optimism, the leu (Romanian currency) appreciated sharply and the stock exchange rallied, showing a new wave of confidence in Romania’s European trajectory and funding stability. In a polarised region, this result reinforces democratic resilience and offers a hopeful counterpoint to the rise of extremism elsewhere in Europe.
2. In the context of ongoing regional instability, particularly Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and considering Romania’s geostrategic position in the Black Sea, how might the President-elect shape the country’s foreign and security policy?
First of all, now Romania finally will have a President in his full capacity who has a legitimate mandate to shape Romania’s foreign and security policy. We have had an interim president for six months, and it was politically inappropriate to take such an impactful decision amid political uncertainty. At the same time, the geopolitical landscape has developed drastically during the interim President’s tenure, and Romania can no longer stay away from it. Romania is too close to a circle of Russia’s interests to remain inactive.
Two months ago, the European Commission launched the ReArm EU initiative, and Romania is one of those countries that needed such a type of action and can benefit from it. In addition, Romania might also want to have a say in the context of peace negotiations, as lasting peace in the Black Sea region means lasting peace in Romania. Furthermore, the President-elect has declared his support for Moldova and Ukraine in their accession path, so this direction might also become one of the pillars of the country’s foreign policy.
3. Given the political polarisation Romania has been experiencing, what are the main opportunities – and risks – for Romania’s role in the EU?
Despite polarisation, Romanian society showed unity, being able to accumulate all forces to stand for its European future. It displays its remarkable resilience. We proved that Romania is a reliable member of the European family. However, there is still much work ahead. As Russian influence remains strong and far-right parties keep rising in the region, Romania should establish itself as one of the pro-European pillars in Eastern Europe and, together with our other neighbours, ensure a stable, democratic and secure future and prosperity for the Union.
The views and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung European Union.
