The Unexpected Allies Who Saved Romania's Election

The recent presidential election in Romania was a nail-biter. The liberal candidate, Nicusor Dan, pulled off a win. But here is the twist: he wouldn't have made it without the support of two key groups: ethnic Hungarians living in Romania and Moldovans with dual citizenship. These groups turned out in record numbers to vote for Dan. It's estimated that over half a million of these voters chose Dan, giving him a significant lead over his opponent, George Simion. So, who are these voters, and why did they matter so much? Ethnic Hungarians have been a minority in Romania since World War I. There are about a million of them, making up roughly 5. 5% of the population. Most of these ethnic Hungarians usually back Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary. But this time, they didn't follow his lead. Why? Because Orban backed Simion, who has a history of anti-Hungarian actions. The ethnic Hungarians in Romania couldn't vote for someone who was against their own interests. The Moldovan voters with dual citizenship also played a big role. Many of them live in Western Europe and voted for Dan in large numbers. They didn't support Simion because he wants to reunify Moldova and Romania, an idea that isn't popular in Moldova. Plus, Simion's attitude towards Moldovans is seen as patronizing, which didn't sit well with them. The Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania, or UDMR, has been a big player in Romanian politics. They've been part of almost every ruling coalition since 1996. But recently, they've been leaning towards Orban's party. However, this time, they broke ranks and opposed Orban's choice of Simion. This was a big deal because it showed that the ethnic Hungarians in Romania were thinking for themselves, not just following Orban's lead. Moldova is in a tough spot, dealing with Russian aggression and influence. Romania has been helping Moldova to reduce its dependence on Russia. Nicusor Dan, the president-elect, has shown interest in Moldova's welfare. He thanked the Moldovan voters for their support and acknowledged the role of ethnic Hungarians in his victory. The election results showed some amazing records. In Harghita, a district where 85% of residents are ethnic Hungarian, an incredible 91% voted for Dan. This was his best result in any district. In Moldova, Dan got about 135, 000 votes, which was 88% of all votes cast there. The election was a wake-up call for many. It showed that the ethnic Hungarians and Moldovans in Romania are a force to be reckoned with. They have the power to sway elections and shape the country's future. It also showed that they are willing to stand up for their interests, even if it means going against powerful figures like Viktor Orban.