Romania’s pro-West candidate Nicușor Dan wins presidential election in dramatic comeback

Pro-West independent candidate Nicusor Dan staged a dramatic comeback on Sunday to win the Romanian presidential elections with a firm 54% of the votes.

His contender, hard-right candidate George Simion, with 46% of votes, at first refused to concede in an unprecedented political thriller which transfixed and polarised the country on NATO’s eastern flank, but then relented, congratulating Dan on his victory late on Sunday night.

“It’s a bitter feeling, but this election is just the beginning," Simion said, congratulating his opponent.