Pro-western mayor Dan takes early lead in Romanian presidential election runoff

Presidential candidate Nicusor Dan speaks to the media after polls closed for the second round of Romania’s presidential election (Andreea Alexandru/AP)

Pro-western centrist politician Nicusor Dan has taken an early lead in Romania’s presidential election runoff, preliminary data suggests.

Mr Dan, the incumbent mayor of Bucharest, is taking on hard-right nationalist George Simion in a vote that could determine the geopolitical direction of the Nato member country.