Nicușor Dan

Born in Făgăraș, Brașov County, he attended the Radu Negru High School in his native city, graduating in 1988.{{cite web|url=http://www.radunegru.ro/absolventi/absolventi.htm|title=Absolvenți – Promoția 1988|lang=ro|publisher=Radu Negru National College|website=www.radunegru.ro|access-date=August 16, 2024}} He won first prizes in the International Mathematical Olympiads in 1987 and 1988 with perfect scores.{{cite web|url=https://www.imo-official.org/participant_r.aspx?id=1571 |title=Nicușor Dan's individual ranking |publisher=www.imo-official.org |access-date=2016-04-02}} Dan moved to Bucharest at the age of 18 and began studying mathematics at the University of Bucharest.{{cite web|url=https://evz.ro/nicusor-dan-100-de-minciuni-sau-promisiuni-neonorate-ale-lui-sorin-oprescu-974649.html|title=Nicușor Dan: 100 de minciuni sau promisiuni neonorate ale lui Sorin Oprescu|newspaper=Evenimentul Zilei|date= 2 April 2012|language=ro}}

In 1992, he moved to France to continue studying mathematics: he followed the courses of the École Normale Supérieure, one of the most prestigious French grandes écoles, where he gained a master's degree. In 1998 Dan completed a PhD in mathematics at Paris 13 University, with thesis "Courants de Green et prolongement méromorphe" written under the direction of Christophe Soulé and {{ill|Daniel Barsky|de}}.{{cite thesis|url=http://www.theses.fr/1998PA132019|title=Courants de Green et prolongement méromorphe par Nicusor Dan|website=theses.fr|date=January 1998|access-date=September 27, 2020|type=These de doctorat|last1=Dan|first1=Nicusor}}{{cite thesis|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/708496745|title=Courants de Green et prolongement méromorphe|trans-title=Green currents and meromorphic continuation|language=fr|publisher=Université Sorbonne Paris Nord|location=Paris|year=1998|first=Nicușor|last=Dan| oclc=708496745}} He returned to Bucharest that year, giving as reasons for his return his inadaptation to the French culture and the desire to change Romania.Sandra Pralong (ed), De ce m-am întors în România, [http://nicusordan.ro/sites/default/files/article/files/10-ani-in_romania_0.pdf "10 ani în România"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120514105721/http://nicusordan.ro/sites/default/files/article/files/10-ani-in_romania_0.pdf |date=14 May 2012 }}, Polirom, 2010, {{ISBN|9789734617142}}

Dan was one of the creators and the first administrative director of the {{ill|Școala Normală Superioară București|ro}}, a university set up on the model of the French École Normale Supérieure within the Romanian Academy's Institute of Mathematics. {{as of|2011}}, he was a professor of mathematics at the institute.[https://romanialibera.ro/actualitate/proiecte-locale/-piratul--nicusor-viseaza-naufragiul-lui-oprescu-246329 ""Piratul" Nicușor visează naufragiul lui Oprescu"], România Liberă, 29 November 2011.

In 1998, Dan founded Asociația "Tinerii pentru Acțiune Civică" ("Young People for Civic Action" Association), for which he wanted to gather a thousand young people who wanted to change Romania, which was his stated goal for returning to the country. Despite failing in its goals, the association did organise two forums for young people who studied abroad, in 2000 and 2002, to which a few hundred people participated. As result of these forums, the "Ad Astra" Association of Romanian researchers was created in 2000.

: {{main|Save Bucharest Association}}

Dan founded the Asociația "Salvați Bucureștiul" ("Save Bucharest" Association) in 2006 as a reaction to the demolition of architectural heritage houses and the building of high-rise buildings in protected Bucharest neighborhoods, as well as the diminishing number of green space areas in Bucharest.

In March 2008, the association published the "Bucharest, an urbanistic disaster" Report, which discussed Bucharest's problems and ways to overcome them. In the same year, during the elections, together with other NGOs, the association drafted a Pact for Bucharest, which was signed by all the candidates for mayor of Bucharest. On April Fools' Day in 2012, Dan published a list of 100 electoral promises made by elected mayor of Bucharest Sorin Oprescu which were not kept, including the "Pact for Bucharest".[https://revista22.ro/actualitate-interna/nicusor-dan-candidat-independent-la-primaria-capitalei-prezinta-duminica-documentul "Nicușor Dan, candidat independent la Primăria Capitalei, prezintă duminica documentul"], Revista 22, 30 March 2012.

The association was involved in many trials, winning 23 trials against the local authorities of Bucharest. Among them are the cancellation of a project which would have built a water park on 7 hectares of Tineretului Park, saving from demolition a number of heritage buildings on Șoseaua Kiseleff no. 45, and the cancelation of a project which would have built a glass building on top of Palatul Știrbei on Calea Victoriei.

The association was also able to push some changes in 2009 to the urban planning law.

File:Nicușor Dan on bicycle.jpg

Dan announced his candidacy for Mayor of Bucharest in November 2011 at a café on Arthur Verona street, with just a few guests, among which Theodor Paleologu, a historian and Member of Parliament.

File:Nicușor Dan mayoral campaign, volunteers.jpg

For gathering the 36,000 signatures needed for his candidacy, having the backing of no party, he relied on a network of volunteers organised on Facebook. On 22 April, 15 bands and musicians performed pro-bono at Arenele Romane for Dan's campaign in order to help him gather the signatures.{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-alegeri_bucuresti_2012-12037101-nicusor-dan-organizeaza-concert-pentru-strange-semnaturi-pentru-inscrierea-cursa-electorala.htm | title=Nicușor Dan organizează un concert pentru a strânge semnături pentru înscrierea in cursa electorală|publisher=HotNews|date=19 April 2012|language=ro}} During the 12-hour-long concert, volunteers gathered 4,000 signatures.Mircea Toma, [http://bucuresti.24fun.ro/articol/experienta_nicusor_dan-11667.html "Experiența Nicușor Dan"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504034051/http://bucuresti.24fun.ro/articol/experienta_nicusor_dan-11667.html |date=4 May 2012 }}, ''B-24-FUN", 28 April 2012.

Among his proposed projects are the creation of a light rail infrastructure over the existing rail lines in Bucharest, creating an infrastructure for prioritising public transport over other traffic in intersections, consolidating buildings that are likely to be affected by earthquakes, protecting the urban green space and clearing illegal buildings from parks.

Dan argues that it is important to incentivise young people to stay in the city, by making it a regional hub in IT, creative industries and higher education, and attracting investors and skilled people from across the region.[http://b365.realitatea.net/news/nicusor-dan-si-a-depus-candidatura-pentru-primaria-generala-dar-si-pentru-consiliul-general-cu-53-000-de-semnaturi/ "Nicușor Dan și-a depus candidatura pentru Primăria Generală, dar și pentru Consiliul General, cu 53.000 de semnături"], Realitatea.net, 30 April 2012.[http://www.evz.ro/detalii/stiri/nicusor-dan-si-a-depus-candidatura-la-primaria-capitalei-979143.html "Independentul Nicușor Dan și-a depus candidatura la Primăria Capitalei"], Evenimentul Zilei, 30 April 2012.

He received support from Andrei Pleșu, who argued that Dan is the only one of the candidates who is interested in the architecture of Bucharest and does not support any utopian initiatives.Andrei Pleșu, [https://dilemaveche.ro/sectiune/situatiunea/articol/ce-fel-de-primar-vrem-1 "Ce fel de primar vrem?"], Dilema Veche, nr. 423, 22 March 2012. He also received support from political scientist and Member of the European Parliament Cristian Preda.[https://evz.ro/cristian-preda-la-primaria-capitalei-voi-alege-un-independent-pe-nicusor-dan-974719.html "Cristian Preda: La Primăria Capitalei voi alege un independent. Pe Nicușor Dan"], Evenimentul Zilei, 2 April 2012.

Dan gained the support of some journalists who wrote about him in op-eds from several newspapers: Andrei Crăciun of Adevărul saw in him "a Don Quijote untouched by the vulgar lard of undeserved riches" and "a person who works against the system".Andrei Crăciun [http://www.adevarul.ro/andrei_craciun-editorial/Solutia_ignorata_7_676802316.html "Soluţia ignorată"], Adevărul, 8 April 2012. Florin Negruțiu, the editor-in-chief of Gândul thought he is an "atypical candidate" for Bucharest, the model candidate of the intellectuals; nevertheless, the journalist did not see any chances that Dan would become mayor, because he is "too serious" a candidate, and unlikely to appeal to the masses.Florin Negruțiu, [http://www.gandul.info/puterea-gandului/plici-9467975 "Plici!"], Gândul, 2 April 2012. Neculai Constantin Munteanu from Radio Free Europe wrote that he supports Dan for his unselfish way of caring about Bucharest and that his opponents are "comedians", for which one can "admire the imposture, ludicrousness, and incompetence".Neculai Constantin Munteanu, [http://www.europalibera.org/content/article/24543745.html "Un primar pentru București"], Radio Free Europe, 10 April 2012.

Having registered Save Bucharest Union (USB) as a political party in 2015, Dan ran again for Mayor of Bucharest in 2016.{{Cite news|url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-administratie_locala-20269592-nicusor-dan-lansat-partidul-uniunea-salvati-bucurestiul-suntem-continuarea-acestui-efort-care-dna-face-curata-administratia-publica-din-bucuresti-orasul-asta-nu-are-vizune-venim-propunem.htm|title=Nicusor Dan a lansat partidul Uniunea Salvati Bucurestiul: Suntem in continuarea efortului DNA de a curata administratia publica din Bucuresti. Orasul nu are o viziune, venim sa o propunem|last=Ivanov|first=Catiusa|date=1 July 2015|work=Hotnews.ro|access-date=19 July 2019}} This time, the elections were held in a single round. He gained 30,52% of the total votes, losing to the socialist candidate, Gabriela Firea, who gained 42,97% of the total votes.[http://www.gandul.info/stiri/rezultatele-finale-la-alegerile-locale-2016-in-bucuresti-si-in-tara-15467542 "Rezultatele finale la alegerile locale 2016, în Bucureşti şi în ţară"], Gândul, 10 June 2016.

In the election, Dan managed to attract the young electorate, with over half of his voters being under the age of 40.{{Cite news|url=https://www.euractiv.ro/politic-intern/profilul-alegatorilor-gabrielei-firea-si-ai-lui-nicusor-dan.-candidatul-usb-votat-de-tineri-educati-4588|title=Alegeri locale 2016: Profilul alegătorilor Gabrielei Firea și ai lui Nicușor Dan. Candidatul USB, votat de tineri educați|last=Căbescu|first=Paula|date=7 June 2016|work=EURACTIV|access-date=19 July 2019}} Some of USB's candidates for sector mayor have also performed well in their respective races, proving USB's viability as a future political force.{{Cite news|url=https://www.gandul.info/stiri/rezultate-finale-alegeri-locale-2016-firea-42-97-nicusor-dan-30-52-15460603|title=REZULTATE FINALE alegeri locale 2016. Firea – 42,97 %, Nicuşor Dan – 30,52%|last=Pecheanu|first=Gabriel|date=9 June 2016|work=Gândul|access-date=19 July 2019}}

{{Main|Save Romania Union}}

Wanting to capitalise on the momentum that saw him gain a third of the votes in the local elections, Dan announced shortly after the 2016 local election that the Save Bucharest Union will change its name to Save Romania Union (USR), shifting its focus to a national stage. He also announced plans for the new party to enter the Parliamentary elections of that year.{{Cite news|url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-21054884-nicusor-dan-anunta-uniunea-salvati-bucurestiul-devine-uniunea-salvati-romania-vom-lupta-pentru-locuri-parlament.htm|title=Un nou partid pe scena politica nationala. Uniunea Salvati Bucurestiul devine Uniunea Salvati Romania. Nicusor Dan: Vom lupta pentru locuri in Parlament|last=I.C.|date=5 June 2016|work=Hotnews.ro|access-date=19 July 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.agerpres.ro/politica/2016/12/22/retrospectiva-2016-de-la-asociatia-salvati-bucurestiul-la-uniunea-salvati-romania-lupta-civica-transferata-in-parlament-16-06-31|title=RETROSPECTIVĂ 2016 De la Asociaţia Salvaţi Bucureştiul, la Uniunea Salvaţi România: Lupta civică, transferată în Parlament|date=22 December 2016|work=Agerpres|access-date=19 July 2019|archive-date=19 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719154404/https://www.agerpres.ro/politica/2016/12/22/retrospectiva-2016-de-la-asociatia-salvati-bucurestiul-la-uniunea-salvati-romania-lupta-civica-transferata-in-parlament-16-06-31|url-status=dead}}

With Dan at the top of the candidate list, USR gained 8.92% of the vote in the Senate race and 8.87% in the Chamber of Deputies, which made them the third largest party in Romania.{{Cite news|url=https://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/alegeri-parlamentare/rezultate-finale-alegeri-parlamentare-2016-psd-castigat-alegerile-insa-nu-are-majoritate-in-parlament.html|title=Rezultate finale alegeri parlamentare 2016. PSD a castigat alegerile, insa nu are majoritate in Parlament|date=15 December 2016|work=PRO TV|access-date=19 July 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/rezultatele-alegerilor-parlamentare-2016-1680979|title=Rezultate alegeri parlamentare 2016. Rezultate finale anunțate de BEC: PSD – 45,47%, PNL – 20,04%, USR – 8,87%|date=15 December 2016|work=Libertatea|access-date=19 July 2019}} The result also meant that Dan became a member of the Chamber of Deputies.

In 2017, anti-same-sex NGO Coaliția pentru Familie managed to raise the necessary number of signatures to organise a referendum that would change the part of the Romanian Constitution dealing with marriage, with the hope of redefining it as "between a man and a woman".{{Cite news|url=https://www.diggitmagazine.com/articles/case-romania-s-family-referendum|title=The Case of Romania's Family Referendum|last=Andrei|first=Alina|date=10 December 2018|work=Diggit Magazine|access-date=19 July 2019}} This created a rift within USR, between the progressive wing, who wanted USR to become the only Parliamentary party to oppose the initiative, and Dan, who believed USR should not get involved in the debate and that the party should remain open for both progressives and conservatives.{{Cite news|url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-21764439-emanuel-ungureanu-candidat-sefia-usr-lipseste-curajul-fata-ipocriziei-numita-referendum-pentru-familie.htm|title=Nicusor Dan: USR are doua probleme – conflictul dintre progresisti si conservatori si lipsa de colegialitate si de incredere/ Serban Marinescu: Lipsa deciziilor ne poate costa mai mult decat o decizie/ Emanuel Ungureanu: Ne lipseste curajul in fata ipocriziei numita referendum pentru familie|last=V.M.|date=13 May 2017|work=Hotnews.ro|access-date=19 July 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-politic-21797310-nicusor-dan-isi-explica-plecarea-din-usr-cel-mai-important-motiv-tine-onoare-promis-oamenilor-usr-loc-pentru-progresisti-pentru-conservatori.htm|title=Nicusor Dan isi explica plecarea din USR: Este o chestiune de onoare, am promis oamenilor ca in partid va fi loc si pentru progresisti si pentru conservatori|last=G.S.|date=1 June 2017|work=Hotnews.ro|access-date=19 July 2019}} An internal referendum within the party followed, in which 52.7% of members voted to position the party against the Constitutional initiative, which triggered Dan to resign from the party on 1 June 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://www.mediafax.ro/politic/usr-in-deriva-dupa-referendumul-intern-privind-redefinirea-familiei-nicusor-dan-nu-da-inapoi-eu-vreau-sa-le-multumesc-si-sa-ii-asigur-ca-raman-in-politica-16693276|title=USR, în derivă după referendumul intern privind redefinirea familiei. Nicuşor Dan nu dă înapoi: Eu vreau să le mulţumesc şi să îi asigur că rămân în politică|last=Stanila|first=Dana|date=14 August 2017|work=Mediafax|access-date=19 July 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/nicusor-dan-voi-explica-demisia-mea-din-usr-intr-o-conferinta-de-presa-735406|title=Nicuşor Dan și-a anunțat oficial demisia din USR. E dispus să se întoarcă în anumite condiții|date=1 June 2017|work=Digi24|access-date=19 July 2019}} As explanation for his opposition to the National Council vote he cited religious matters, the dangers of deviating from the main party issue of fighting against corruption and his refusal to belong to a party that defines itself as a party of civil liberties.{{Cite news|url=https://www.euractiv.ro/politic-intern/demisioneaza-sau-nu-nicusor-dan-de-la-conducerea-usr-7805|title=Nicușor Dan pleacă din USR, din cauza deciziei partidului de a nu susţine revizuirea Constituției|last=M.K.|date=1 June 2017|work=EURACTIV|access-date=19 July 2019}}

After his resignation from USR, Dan continued to serve as a member of the Chamber of Deputies as an independent.

Due to a quirk in the Romanian electoral law, USR required his signature when they attempted to legally register their alliance with the Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party (PLUS). In order to help his former party, in March 2019 Dan briefly rejoined USR as a common member, gave the necessary signature and then resigned for a second time.{{Cite news|url=https://www.g4media.ro/nicusor-dan-s-a-reinscris-in-usr-pentru-ca-alianta-2020-sa-poata-fi-inregistrata-ajut-cum-pot-optiunea-asta-electorala.html|title=Nicușor Dan s-a reînscris în USR pentru ca Alianța 2020 să poată fi înregistrată: Ajut cum pot opțiunea asta electorală|last=Citre|first=Cristian|date=8 March 2019|work=G4Media|access-date=19 July 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/nicusor-dan-isi-anunta-candidatura-la-primarie-am-speranta-ca-voi-fi-candidatul-unic-al-opozitiei-1139898|title=Nicuşor Dan îşi anunţă candidatura la primărie: Am speranţa că voi fi candidatul unic al Opoziţiei|last=Dumitru|first=Adrian|date=30 May 2019|work=Digi24|access-date=19 July 2019}}

In May 2019, he announced his plans to once again run for Mayor of Bucharest, as an independent. Dan mentioned that while he hoped that his candidacy would be supported by the rest of the opposition parties, he would not run against a different common candidate, unwilling to split the vote of the opposition.

He was ultimately supported by both USR and the National Liberal Party (PNL). With 95% of votes counted, partial results suggested that he won the mayoral election with 42.8% of votes. Shortly afterwards exit polls showed him winning the race, he announced victory.{{Cite web|url=https://www.romania-insider.com/romania-local-elections-exit-polls-september-2020|title=Romania local elections: Partial results confirm Nicusor Dan is Bucharest's new mayor|date=27 September 2020 }} On 5 October 2020 the Central Electoral Bureau confirmed his status as the new Mayor of Bucharest, winning the elections with a plurality of 42.81% against Gabriela Firea (37.97%), the former Mayor.

Following the decision made by the governing alliance between the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Social Democratic Party (PSD) to hold the elections in June of 2024, Dan participated once again as an independent for Mayor, for a new term. This time, he was supported by the same USR (Save Romanian Union) party, but also by two other minor parties, the People's Movement Party (PMP) and The Force of the Right (FD) whose president is former PNL leader Ludovic Orban, who left the party in 2021 after losing the presidency of the party to then-prime minister Florin Cîțu; all three formed the United Right Alliance (ADU), an official national opposition to the National Coalition for Romania (CNR) formed by the PSD and PNL. Additionally, the REPER party, headed by former PLUS leader Dacian Cioloș, supported Dan, but was not part of ADU.

The elections were held on 9 June 2024 together with the European Parliament elections in Romania, a controversial move done by the CNR earlier that year. Thought to be a close race up until the last moment, the exit polls showed the result was overwhelmingly in favour of Dan, winning with 45% of the total vote, who declared himself the winner of the race. After the vote count, Dan was the clear winner of the elections with approximately 48% of the total votes,https://locale2024.bec.ro/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/PV_PGMB.pdf more than double the votes given to the same runner-up from 2020, Gabriela Firea, who placed second with 22%, followed by former Sector 5 Mayor, Cristian Popescu Piedone (16%) and PNL candidate and president for the Bucharest branch of the party, Sebastian Burduja (7.6%).{{Cite web |date=2024-06-10 |title=Rezultate alegeri locale 2024 pentru București. Nicușor Dan are mai mult decât au împreună Firea + Piedone + Burduja - HotNews.ro |url=https://hotnews.ro/rezultate-alegeri-locale-2024-pentru-bucuresti-nicusor-dan-are-mai-mult-dect-au-mpreuna-firea-piedone-burduja-914061 |access-date=2024-10-17 |language=ro-RO}}

During his victory speech, Dan declared his intention to organise two referendums for Bucharest, one for centralising more power to the General Mayor of Bucharest regarding building authorisations, a very consistent theme during his campaign, and another for alocatting more financial funds to the General Mayor rather than to the Sector mayors.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-09 |title=Nicușor Dan, prima reacție după ce a câștigat a doua oară Primăria Capitalei: "Nu ne vom bate joc de mandatul pe care ni l-ați dat" |url=https://www.digi24.ro/alegeri-locale-2024/nicusor-dan-prima-reactie-dupa-ce-a-castigat-a-doua-oara-primaria-capitalei-nu-ne-vom-bate-joc-de-mandatul-pe-care-ni-l-ati-oferit-2821733 |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=www.digi24.ro |language=ro}} Both were planned to take place on the same day as the parliamentary elections, in order to "reduce organisational costs for separate elections", according to Dan.

On 14 October 2024,{{Cite web |title=Scandal în Piața Unirii între Nicușor Dan și Poliția Locală a Sectorului 4. Intervin echipaje ale Poliţiei şi Jandarmeriei |url=https://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/actualitate/scandal-in-piata-unirii-intre-nicusor-dan-si-politia-locala-a-sectorului-4-intervin-echipaje-ale-politiei-si-jandarmeriei.html |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=Știrile ProTV |language=ro}} around midnight, Sector 4 mayor Daniel Băluță (PSD), declared that the foundation upon which the central Piața Unirii stands has become a public danger due to its age and sent multiple construction workers and Sector 4 local police agents to Unirii Park in order to start proceedings for the foundation's physical consolidation. Having learned of this, in the morning of the same day Dan went himself to the square, together with his staff and Bucharest local police agents, to tell the workers present to halt the procedure as it did not follow the rule of law; Daniel Băluță did not wait to get all permits necessary for starting the work for the foundation (these include permissions from Metrorex and Apa Nova (Bucharest's water and sewage administration institution, involved due to Dâmbovița's course right through the middle of Piața Unirii) and it was suspected to be a way for the PSD mayor to rush the works in order to redirect financial funds.

Once Dan and his staff made their appearance at the site of the construction works, Sector 4 local police agents including its director, Cristian Pîslă, who was subsequently suspected of corruption,{{Cite web |date=2024-10-16 |title=Cine este polițistul local care nu l-a lăsat pe Nicușor Dan să intre pe șantierul de la Piața Unirii |url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/cine-este-politistul-local-care-nu-l-a-lasat-pe-nicusor-dan-sa-intre-pe-santierul-de-la-piata-unirii-hotnews-2968967 |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=www.digi24.ro |language=ro}} did not permit the entrance to the site itself, and a small scuffle ensued in which the crowds pushed each other. Afterwards, Pîslă called 112, accusing the Mayor of inciting to violence and illegal behaviour. Dan himself called the National Police and after a few more exchanges, left the park in order to retrieve certain documents attesting to the fact that the City Hall of Bucharest had the absolute right to investigate the construction as it was its property, and not Sector 4's.

Returning with the documents and some bulldozers, Dan was set to bring down the fences around the site and dismantle the construction works. Sector 4 local police again blocked the entrance of the bulldozers, some agents hurling insults and being physically aggressive to the bulldozer operators, which the wide public of Bucharest viewed as proof of the agents being members of the Sector 4 Clanul Sportivilor, an organisation of the Romanian mafia operating mainly in the southern part of Bucharest who were long suspected to work with Daniel Băluță himself.{{Cite web |last=Hurdea |first=Ioana |date=2024-10-15 |title=Interlopii din Politia Sector 4. Cum au fost injurati si amenintati soferii de pe buldozere in timpul conflictului din Piata Unirii - VIDEO |url=https://www.aktual24.ro/interlopii-din-politia-sector-4-cum-au-fost-injurati-si-amenintati-soferii-de-pe-buldozere-in-timpul-conflictului-din-piata-unirii-video/ |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=Aktual24 |language=ro-RO}} Reportedly, two people were hurt in the chaos, but these reports were widely ignored as they were viewed as fake in order to pin blame on Dan.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-16 |title=Controversa răniților din scandalul primarilor de la Unirii. Nicușor Dan: Seamănă cu jandarmii bătuți la 10 august această relatare |url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/controversa-ranitilor-din-scandalul-primarilor-din-piata-unirii-nicusor-dan-seamana-cu-jandarmii-batuti-la-10-august-aceasta-relatare-2971269 |access-date=2024-10-17 |website=www.digi24.ro |language=ro}}

Eventually, Daniel Băluță conceded and told the construction workers and police agents to retreat, as Romanian Prime-minister Marcel Ciolacu himself intervened. The construction site was dismantled the following day and Dan launched an investigation into the proceedings. He once again began talking about the referendum for restricting the authority of the sector mayors and centralising more power to the Mayor of Bucharest, a promise made after his re-election in the local elections, and said the General Council of the City Hall of Bucharest will convene on 21 October in order to announce the subsequent date of the referendum.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-15 |title=După conflictul cu Băluță, Nicușor Dan propune un referendum în Capitală pe tema taxelor locale și a autorizațiilor de construcție|publisher=HotNews |url=https://hotnews.ro/nicusor-dan-anunta-un-referendum-local-in-capitala-care-sunt-intrebarile-la-care-vor-raspunde-bucurestenii-1813758 |access-date=2024-10-17 |language=ro-RO}}

After the Piața Unirii incident, Dan was viewed even more favourably{{Cite web |last=Otopeanu |first=Cristian |date=2024-10-17 |title=Nicușor Dan și-a început campania pentru președinție din 2029, spune CTP. "Capitala ce câștigă?" |url=https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/nicusor-dan-si-a-inceput-campania-pentru-presedintie-din-2029-spune-ctp-capitala-ce-castiga-5050656 |access-date=2024-10-17 |language=ro |newspaper=Libertatea}} by the general populace of Bucharest, being called a bulwark against the widespread corruption of the country and the only one to effectively stand against the PSD-PNL coalition. These caused the speculations of a possible presidential candidature in the next elections. On 16 December he announced his candidacy for the 2025 Romanian presidential election,{{Cite web |date=2024-12-16 |title=Nicușor Dan: Vă anunț că intenționez să CANDIDEZ la alegerile prezidențiale din 2025/ Voi candida independent |url=https://www.gandul.ro/alegeri-2024/nicusor-dan-urmeaza-sa-si-anunte-candidatura-la-presedintie-va-intra-in-cursa-ca-independent-update-declaratii-sustinute-de-nicusor-dan-la-ora-18-20381731 |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Gândul |language=ro}} after the annulement of the 2024 elections due to alleged Russian meddling in favour of winner of the first round Călin Georgescu.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-16 |title=Nicușor Dan: Intenționez să candidez la alegerile prezidențiale din 2025 / Sunt zone întregi din statul român capturate de grupuri de interese|publisher=HotNews |url=https://hotnews.ro/nicusor-dan-conferinta-de-presa-la-ora-18-00-prima-iesire-publica-dupa-aparitia-informatiei-ca-va-candida-la-presedintie-1862590 |access-date=2024-12-16 |language=ro-RO}}

His announcement came as a surprise to many, as he had previously expressed his intention to serve at least one more term as Mayor of Bucharest before the elections, stating that he "would need at least 2-3 terms to make everything right in Bucharest.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-14 |title=Nicușor Dan: Îmi doresc și un al treilea mandat ca primar al Capitalei |url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/nicusor-dan-imi-doresc-si-un-al-treilea-mandat-ca-primar-al-capitalei-2828027 |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=www.digi24.ro |language=ro}}{{Cite web |date=2024-05-04 |title=Nicușor Dan mai vrea trei mandate de primar. Ce spune despre o eventuală candidatură la prezidențiale - HotNews.ro |url=https://hotnews.ro/nicusor-dan-mai-vrea-trei-mandate-de-primar-ce-spune-despre-o-eventuala-candidatura-la-prezidentiale-913206 |access-date=2025-02-12 |language=ro-RO}} This change of plans also led to a falling out with Elena Lasconi, a former supporter of Dan, who placed second in the annulled 2024 elections' first round. It is widely believed that Lasconi and Dan appeal to similar voter demographics, with both targeting liberal, progressive, moderate, pro-European, and anti-PSD/anti-PNL camps. As a result, their simultaneous candidacies may have divided this voter base. {{Cite news |last=Petrescu |first=Ana |date=16 March 2025 |title=CCR a respins cele trei contestații privind candidatura lui George Simion. Mesajul președintelui AUR |url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/ccr-discuta-astazi-13-contestatii-la-mai-multe-candidaturi-printre-care-calin-georgescu-nicusor-dan-victor-ponta-si-george-simion-3159981 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250316192953/https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/ccr-discuta-astazi-13-contestatii-la-mai-multe-candidaturi-printre-care-calin-georgescu-nicusor-dan-victor-ponta-si-george-simion-3159981?__grsc=cookieIsUndef0&__grts=58071779&__grua=9e90f00bfd79edbeb2910967839a1fb1&__grrn=1 |archive-date=16 March 2025 |access-date=16 March 2025 |work=Digi24}} The Constitutional Court validated his candidacy on 16 March along with the ones of George Simion and Victor Ponta.{{Cite news |last=Petrescu |first=Ana |date=16 March 2025 |title=CCR a respins cele trei contestații privind candidatura lui George Simion. Mesajul președintelui AUR |url=https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/ccr-discuta-astazi-13-contestatii-la-mai-multe-candidaturi-printre-care-calin-georgescu-nicusor-dan-victor-ponta-si-george-simion-3159981 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250316192953/https://www.digi24.ro/stiri/actualitate/politica/ccr-discuta-astazi-13-contestatii-la-mai-multe-candidaturi-printre-care-calin-georgescu-nicusor-dan-victor-ponta-si-george-simion-3159981?__grsc=cookieIsUndef0&__grts=58071779&__grua=9e90f00bfd79edbeb2910967839a1fb1&__grrn=1 |archive-date=16 March 2025 |access-date=16 March 2025 |work=Digi24}} On March 22, a random draw placed Dan at the bottom of the candidate list on the ballot.{{Cite news |last=Arambescu |first=Dana |date=23 March 2025 |title=Ordinea candidaților pe buletinul de vot la alegerile prezidențiale din 4 mai 2025 |url=https://www.libertatea.ro/stiri/ordinea-candidatilor-buletinul-de-vot-alegerile-prezidentiale-2025-5242788 |url-status=live |work=Libertatea}}

In an article published in 2000 in the conservative weekly Dilema veche, Dan stated that "I am against the acceptance of homosexual behaviour in public spaces, in Romania. I believe this to be an attack against traditional values and therefore, my legitimate collective identity". The statement kept resurfacing after his political career took off, particularly during his much-publicized departure from USR. Dan distanced himself from his previous statements on several occasions, claiming that he is not homophobic and that his opinion on the matter has changed considerably in the following years.{{Cite news|url=https://www.b1.ro/stiri/politica/nicusor-dan-sunt-impotriva-acceptarii-comportamentului-homosexual-in-spatiul-public-un-articol-din-anul-2000-si-consecintele-lui-electorale-143578.html|title=Nicușor Dan: "Sunt împotriva acceptării comportamentului homosexual în spațiul public". Un articol din anul 2000 şi consecinţele lui electorale|date=16 March 2016|work=B1 TV|access-date=19 July 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.vice.com/ro/article/kzqgby/am-vorbit-cu-nicusor-dan-despre-homofobie-si-planul-lui-pentru-usr|title=Am vorbit cu Nicușor Dan despre homofobie și planul lui pentru USR|last=Dumitrescu|first=Ionuț|date=12 June 2017|magazine=Vice|access-date=19 July 2019}}

In May 2024, in light of the approaching local elections, an alleged Securitate document dating from July 1988 surfaced, documenting his collaboration with the secret authorities of the Ceaușescu regime, in which Securitate agents detailed information given by Dan about his high school colleagues with whom he attended the International Mathematics Olympiads of 1987 and 1988. Dan maintained the document was a fake, saying that "he did not interact with the authorities of the time any more than it was necessary". PSD president and Prime-minister of Romania Marcel Ciolacu also commented on the document, saying it is a too "well-put together document for the time". National Council for the Study of the Securitate Archives (CNSAS) specialists analysed the document as well, concluding it was a fake, citing improper dates, inconsistent expressions for the time, not used in the vernacular of the Securitate agents and a "too perfect style of writing, not mirroring that of the typewriters which the authorities of the time used for making official documents, lacking diacritics which were present on actual real documents of the time".{{Cite web |date=2024-06-03 |title=O filieră a PSD a furnizat presei și a început să circule pe TV un document în care se susține că elevul Nicușor Dan a colaborat cu Securitatea când avea 17 ani și a dat note despre colegii săi / Istoricul Mihai Demetriade, cercetător CNSAS: „Un fake, nici măcar bine făcut” - HotNews.ro |url=https://hotnews.ro/o-filiera-a-psd-a-furnizat-presei-si-a-nceput-sa-circule-pe-tv-un-document-n-care-se-sustine-ca-elevul-nicusor-dan-a-colaborat-cu-securitatea-cnd-avea-17-ani-si-a-dat-note-despre-915787 |access-date=2025-02-25 |language=ro-RO}}

Dan lives with his long-time girlfriend, Mirabela, an executive for Renault. They became the parents in May 2016 of a baby girl and in May 2022 of a baby boy.{{Cite news|url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-alegeri_locale_2016_bucuresti-20932674-video-interviu-nicusor-dan-pnl-nu-poate-castige-situatia-care-candidam-noi-candideaza-castig-4-100-lei-luna-locuiesc-chirie-intr-apartament-din-zona-gorjului-platesc-chirie-250-euro-luna.htm|title=Nicușor Dan: PNL-ul nu poate să câștige in situația în care candidăm și noi, candidează și ei/ Câștig 4.100 lei/luna. Locuiesc cu chirie intr-un apartament din zona Gorjului. Plătesc chirie 250 euro/lună|last=Ivanov|first=Catiușa|date=12 April 2016|work=HotNews|access-date=19 April 2019}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.stiripesurse.ro/cine-este-iubita-pre-edintelui-usb-nicu-or-dan_1137631.html|title=Cine este iubita președintelui USB, Nicușor Dan|last=Cruceru|first=Alexandra|date=26 May 2016|website=www.stiripesurse.ro|access-date=19 July 2019}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://nicusordan.ro/ Nicușor Dan's website]
• [http://www.salvatibucurestiul.ro/ Salvați Bucureștiul (Save Bucharest) Association]
• {{cite web|url=http://www.politico.eu/article/nicusor-dan-independent-candidate-romenia-local-elections-bucharest-geek-takes-on-romanian-establishment-corruption/ |title=Geek takes on Romanian establishment. The unlikely campaign of a mathematician dedicated to saving Bucharest from the developers — and the politicians|newspaper=Politico|first= Carmen|last= Păun|date= June 3, 2016|access-date=September 27, 2020}}
• {{VIAF|45153124238924490799}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Dan, Nicusor}}

Category:1969 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Făgăraș

Category:Romanian mathematicians

Category:Romanian political candidates

Category:Romanian activists

Category:Romanian conservationists

Category:Mayors of Bucharest

Category:Radu Negru National College alumni

Category:University of Bucharest alumni

Category:University of Paris alumni

Category:École Normale Supérieure alumni

Category:International Mathematical Olympiad participants

Category:Members of the Chamber of Deputies (Romania)

Category:Save Romania Union politicians

Category:Romanian expatriates in France