Against all odds, Nicusor Dan defied predictions on Sunday, May 18, by winning the second round of the Romanian presidential election with 53.6% of the vote, far ahead of his nationalist rival, George Simion, who was defeated with 46.4%. Before the runoff election was held, the centrist mayor of Bucharest had been considered the underdog by Romania's underground bookmakers, who take bets on the candidates. After all, he won only 21% of the vote in the first round, compared to 41% for Simion.

Catching up, after such a gap, seemed an impossible feat. The most pessimistic observers feared that Dan, a mathematics prodigy known for his gentle demeanor, would be no match for his populist opponent: Simion, a football fan drawn to violence, an imposing figure with plenty of bravado and an omnipresent voice on social media platforms.

Yet, despite his "lack of charisma," the pro-European candidate achieved a decisive victory, finishing with a comfortable lead of 829,589 votes over his rival, according to the latest tally from the Central Electoral Bureau. This victory would not have been possible without an extraordinary surge in participation by Romanian voters, who turned out in large numbers to block the far-right candidate in the second electoral round. Political analysts had said that Dan's victory was possible, on the condition that turnout reached 65%. When polling stations closed on Sunday night, the turnout figures stood at 63%, compared to 53% in the first round.

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