Defeating populists never signals an easy return to the status quo ante.

Mr Simion had been the favourite to win but lost to pro-EU candidate Nicusor Dan in the final vote over the weekend.

George Simion, who was defeated in Sunday's presidential runoff, announced on Tuesday that he intends to appeal the results and seek the election's annulment, citing alleged 'external interferences,' notably by France.

Romania’s assets staged a relief rally after a centrist candidate defeated his nationalist opponent in the presidential election, with investor focus now shifting to how quickly a new government can fix the state’s finances.

There was a wave of euphoria and relief across Europe following the election of pro-European liberal Nicusor Dan as Romania’s new president. Moldovan President Maia Sandu echoed the sentiment: “Congratulations,

The lead-up to the election saw a resurgence in symbolism associated with the fiercely antisemitic Iron Guard, a Romanian revolutionary fascist movement.

But Romania's growth has steadily slowed since a post-pandemic bounce in 2021, and the European Commission forecasts its budget deficit at 8.6% this year and 8.4% in 2026, well above the government's 7% 2025 target outlined in a seven-year EU-approved plan.

Exit polls say Nicusor Dan, the mayor of Bucharest, won by about 10 percentage points in Sunday’s redo election after the vote’s cancellation last year.