Pro-EU Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan, who won Sunday’s tense presidential vote in Romania, campaigned on a slogan of change, saying he wants to “rebuild” the Eastern European country. The former math prodigy gained 54 percent compared to 46 percent by nationalist George Simion, who had topped the May 4 first round of voting in the EU and NATO member bordering war-torn Ukraine. Dan, who was an activist fighting illegal urban development before becoming mayor, told jubilant supporters gathered in a Bucharest park that Romania’s “reconstruction” would begin on Monday, calling it “a moment of hope”. “In today’s elections a community of Romanians who want a profound change in Romania won,” the 55-year-old said. One of the EU’s poorest members with a wide wealth disparity, Romania has been ruled by the same class of politicians since the end of Communism in 1989. In his presidential campaign for the top post, which holds significant sway in foreign policy, Dan has voiced support for Ukraine and vowed to keep Romania on its “pro-Western” path, urging voters to reject Simion’s “isolationist” approach. ‘Shock’ vote annulment Dan has said his decision to run in the race followed the shock annulment of last year’s elections. Romania’s constitutional court scrapped the vote after allegations of Russian interference -- which Moscow has denied, and a massive social media promotion in favor of the far-right frontrunner, since barred. The political turmoil has deepened divisions in the country, which Dan hopes to heal. Born and raised in Brasov county in Transylvania in central Romania, as a teenager he won several international math competitions and went on to study math at the University of Bucharest. He then moved to France to continue his studies and got his PhD in Paris, before returning to Romania to help bring change and fight endemic graft. With the country ranked as one of the EU’s most corrupt by Transparency International, he became an activist battling illegal urban development. He then turned to politics, a career his daughter has said leaves him little time though she supports him, the father-of-two told AFP. Running for Bucharest mayor several times, Dan was eventually elected in 2020 and then re-elected for a second term in 2024. He ran as an independent after leaving the party he founded, the Save Romania Union (USR), arguing the party should stay focused on the fight against corruption instead of civil liberties, including LGBTQ rights. Since first being elected mayor, Dan has prided himself on having modernized the capital’s heating system and its sports facilities, while succeeding in pulling the city out of bankruptcy. Reserved nature Dan is known for carefully weighing his words and for his reserved nature. He has been criticized for lacking decisiveness and for poor communication skills. But in the fight against Simion, a football hooligan in his youth known for his sometimes violent outbursts, Dan’s reserved nature may have been an asset, according to analysts. “He is more the managerial, administrative type but he is a very decent, honest guy,” political analyst Sorin Cucerai told AFP.