section_path: Aftermath/Second round/Analysis
section_name: Analysis
paragraph_text: Analysis
  
  Analysts attributed Dan's unexpected victory in the second round to the higher voter turnout. Dan defeated Simion particularly among urban voters, women and ethnic minorities. The New York Times columnist Andrew Higgins also opined that Dan's victory indicated that voters "wanted a middle path between bitterly polarized political camps", while the Atlantic Council argued that Dan benefited from not being associated with the ruling government, and that "Romanians have voted for Europe and democracy, not nationalism, but they also seem to want change". Political analyst and AUR senate leader Petrișor Peiu attributed the result to Dan's strong mobilisation efforts as well as "less inspired" decisions by the AUR.