Centrist mayor Nicușor Dan appeared poised to win Romania’s presidency on Sunday, defeating far-right, Trump-aligned rival George Simion in a closely watched election that could shape the country’s future within the EU and NATO.
Centrist Mayor Nicușor Dan on Track to Win Romanian Presidency, Beating Trump-Aligned Rival
Bucharest’s centrist mayor, Nicușor Dan, appears set to win Romania’s presidency, exit polls showed Sunday, in a race closely followed across Europe amid a rise in support for U.S. President Donald Trump.
Dan secured 54–55% of the vote, overtaking hard-right candidate George Simion, a Trump supporter and eurosceptic who pledged to end military aid to Ukraine.
Running on an anti-corruption and pro-EU platform, Dan pledged to stabilize Romania’s economy, reduce its EU-high budget deficit, and reassure investors. He will need to nominate a prime minister and form a parliamentary majority to move forward.
“There’s a tough road ahead to rebuild the economy and society. Please have hope and patience,” Dan told supporters after exit polls were released.
Romania’s president holds significant powers, including heading the defence council and influencing EU foreign policy decisions.
The vote coincided with Poland’s presidential race, where liberal Rafal Trzaskowski faces two pro-Trump conservatives.
Simion, despite the polls, declared victory on Facebook: “I won!!! I am the new President of Romania and I am giving back the power to the Romanians!”
Simion’s late surge reflected growing frustration across Central Europe with mainstream elites over migration and economic issues. Analysts warned his win could have isolated Romania, discouraged investment, and weakened NATO’s eastern flank.
The election followed the cancellation of a previous vote over alleged Russian interference, which Moscow denied. Exit poll-confirmed results are expected later Sunday.
Portugal's ruling centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD), led by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, is on track to win the most votes in Sunday’s snap parliamentary election—but likely without securing a governing majority, according to exit polls.
Centrist candidate Rafal Trzaskowski led the first round of Poland’s presidential election on Sunday, edging ahead of nationalist rival Karol Nawrocki and setting up a high-stakes runoff that will determine whether Poland stays on a pro-European course or shifts toward a more nationalist path
Centrist mayor Nicușor Dan appeared poised to win Romania’s presidency on Sunday, defeating far-right, Trump-aligned rival George Simion in a closely watched election that could shape the country’s future within the EU and NATO.
Following Pope Leo’s inaugural Mass at the Vatican on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the pontiff, thanking the Holy See for offering to host direct Ukraine–Russia talks and affirming Kyiv’s readiness for any format that could end the war.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Sunday to launch long-term EU–U.S. trade talks, with both sides having already exchanged negotiating papers to tackle their tariff differences.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is set to attend the upcoming G7 finance ministers' meeting in Banff, Alberta, Canada. His goal is to shift the group’s attention toward tackling global trade imbalances and addressing unfair economic practices, according to a Treasury spokesperson.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Canada’s PM Mark Carney met in Rome after attending Pope Leo XIV's inaugural Mass.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer held talks on Ukraine with world leaders ahead of the upcoming Trump–Putin call.
U.S. President Trump and Rep. Khanna have expressed support after Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis.
Israel will begin allowing a limited amount of food into Gaza to prevent a hunger crisis, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced on Sunday. This comes just hours after Israel launched a new large-scale ground offensive in the territory.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on May 15, with discussions reportedly focusing on upcoming peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegates in Istanbul.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war in Gaza will not stop until Hamas is destroyed, following the release of US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander.
Qatar signed a landmark agreement with U.S. aerospace giant Boeing on Wednesday to acquire 160 aircraft for Qatar Airways, a deal valued at $200 billion. The signing took place in Doha during the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Ukrainian and Russian delegations meet behind closed doors at Istanbul’s Dolmabahçe Palace at 10:00 local time today to explore security guarantees, territorial integrity and a possible ceasefire.
EU approves 17th Russia sanctions, blacklisting almost 200 shadow‑fleet ships, 30 evasion firms and 75 defence figures, banning missile chemicals and arming Brussels to strike Kremlin hybrid and operations.
The conflict between the Trump administration and Harvard University has escalated dramatically in recent months, with the federal government freezing billions in funding and explicitly threatening to revoke the university's tax-exempt status.
U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at Walmart on Saturday, urging the retail giant to absorb the costs of import tariffs rather than pass them on to consumers, as the company warned it would begin raising prices later this month due to the ongoing trade war.
Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, expressed confidence that Monday's planned phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could help advance peace efforts.
Austria is basking in the glow of a triumphant Eurovision Song Contest victory, but celebrations have quickly turned to practical concerns over where to host next year’s event and how to pay for it, officials said Sunday.
A strong dust and windstorm struck Peshawar on Sunday evening, leading to significant damage and disruption across the city.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is set to attend the upcoming G7 finance ministers' meeting in Banff, Alberta, Canada. His goal is to shift the group’s attention toward tackling global trade imbalances and addressing unfair economic practices, according to a Treasury spokesperson.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Canada’s PM Mark Carney met in Rome after attending Pope Leo XIV's inaugural Mass.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer held talks on Ukraine with world leaders ahead of the upcoming Trump–Putin call.
U.S. President Trump and Rep. Khanna have expressed support after Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis.
Israel will begin allowing a limited amount of food into Gaza to prevent a hunger crisis, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced on Sunday. This comes just hours after Israel launched a new large-scale ground offensive in the territory.
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