Nicușor Dan is a Romanian mathematician, activist, and politician, currently serving as the Mayor of Bucharest. His journey to the mayor’s office is marked by a long and dedicated fight against urban degradation and corruption within the city’s administration.
Born in Făgăraș, Romania, in 1969, Dan displayed exceptional mathematical talent from a young age, earning medals at the International Mathematical Olympiad. He pursued mathematics studies at the Sorbonne University in Paris, later obtaining a PhD in mathematics. While successful academically, Dan’s focus shifted back to his homeland, driven by a growing concern for the deterioration of Bucharest’s urban environment.
In 2006, he founded the “Save Bucharest Association” (Asociația Salvați Bucureștiul), a non-governmental organization dedicated to protecting the city’s architectural heritage and green spaces from unchecked development and illegal construction. Through this association, Dan spearheaded numerous legal challenges against controversial building projects that violated urban planning regulations and threatened historical landmarks. These legal battles often pitted him against powerful developers and politically connected individuals.
Dan’s activism gradually transitioned into the political arena. He ran for mayor of Bucharest as an independent candidate in 2012, gaining significant public attention for his platform focused on transparency, urban planning reform, and combating corruption. Though he didn’t win that election, his strong showing demonstrated a clear demand for change within the city. He continued his political involvement, founding the “Save Romania Union” (Uniunea Salvați România – USR) in 2016, a political party that aimed to modernize Romania’s political landscape and fight corruption at the national level.
He ran for mayor again in 2016 and 2020, finally securing victory in 2020, backed by an alliance of USR PLUS and the National Liberal Party (PNL). His election marked a significant turning point for Bucharest, signaling a desire for a new approach to governance. As mayor, Dan has focused on improving public transportation, streamlining urban planning processes, tackling illegal construction, and increasing transparency in city administration. He has also prioritized addressing the city’s persistent issues with waste management and air pollution.
His tenure has not been without challenges. He faces a complex web of bureaucratic hurdles, deeply entrenched interests, and the legacy of past mismanagement. Implementing significant reforms in a city as large and complex as Bucharest requires patience, perseverance, and navigating conflicting interests. Despite these obstacles, Nicușor Dan remains committed to his vision of a more sustainable, transparent, and livable Bucharest, continuing his fight to protect the city’s heritage and improve the quality of life for its residents.
2000×1331 cine este sotia lui nicusor ce meserie mirabela gradinaru from newscaffe.ro