Bucharest Mayor Announces Bid for Romanian Presidency

Andra Timu
·2-min read

(Bloomberg) -- Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan plans to run for Romania’s presidency as an independent during next year’s election re-run, seeking to offer an alternative to citizens discontent with the political establishment but wary of the resurgent far-right.

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The 54-year-old won his second term as the mayor of Romania’s capital earlier this year and said he announced his candidacy on Monday because of the dangers posed by Romania’s current political turmoil and far-right forces which now hold a third of the seats in parliament.

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Romania’s top court voided the results of the first round of presidential elections on Nov. 24 over allegations of foreign meddling, following a shock victory by a pro-Russia candidate, Calin Georgescu. The re-run is expected in March or April.

“Romania lacks a clear direction at the moment and we need a president who is able to set a clear strategy, join together political forces and push through deep reforms,” Dan said in a press conference on Monday. “I think citizens in Bucharest will understand that the speed of development cannot be increased if the entire national administration isn’t reformed.”

A mathematician by training, Dan rose to prominence as a civic activist opposing the chaotic real estate development in the Romanian capital. He’s also one of the founders of the reformist Save Romania Union party, from which he resigned in 2017. He became mayor of Bucharest in 2020.

Dan said he’s willing to discuss potential support for his candidacy with all the country’s pro-European parties, which are currently negotiating to form a stable governing coalition.

(Updates with comments from Bucharest mayor Dan from first paragraph)

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