Bucharest mayor, Nicusor Dan who defied attacks from all sides to win a place in the presidential runoff against nationalist George Simion says the country faces a choice between remaining in the Western camp or turning its back on those values.
Nicusor Dan, 55, clinched a spot in the runoff after beating the government candidate by a narrow margin.
The centrist former mathematician said the runoff would be a challenge with George Simion winning more than 40% of the vote, but said he would try to convince voters that they face a choice between remaining in the West, i.e EU and NATO, or exiting that camp.
“I am optimistic that we will win it,” said Nicusor Dan. He thanked all the Romanians who voted, not only his voters, but also the voters of the other candidates, because it was “a democratic process that Romania needed.” Dan especially thanked the Romanians in the Republic of Moldova, where he won by over 50%.
“We are in the second round, at this moment we are separated by 50,000 votes from the 3rd place and the trend is irreversible,” he said.
The independent candidate said the second round would be difficult against what he described as an isolationist candidate.
“It will not be a debate between people, it will be a debate between a pro-Western direction for Romania and an anti-Western direction for Romania, this is what the second round will be about.”
It is our task to convince Romanians that Romania needs the pro-Western direction and this is what our campaign will focus on during the two weeks. And I call on all Romanians to be part of this battle. I am optimistic that we will win it, that Romania will keep the Western direction and I hope that with all the resources that this country has, it will be, in a few years, in places it deserves,” said Nicusor Dan.
Asked to comment on the fact that no candidate had endorsed him for the second round, Nicusor Dan replied:
“It’s much less important. The important thing is how people will position themselves and, as I told you, it will be a pro-West, anti-West fight and it is our task to convince people that this is the framework in which the campaign will take place.”
Get out and vote, or we’ll be out of the European Union and NATO
