President for all Romanians

It's a surprise of historic dimensions. For the first time since the political turn of events 25 years ago, Romanians have demonstrated cross-party solidarity. Discreet, politically mature "Generation Y' citizens, well-informed and not to be manipulated by the media, managed to convince their parents and grandparents that Ponta the candidate, just like Ponta the prime minister, is a disgrace to his country.

Empty election promises, an unprecedented smear campaign by his cronies, lies and slander - none of it helped him much. By resorting to thoroughly undemocratic efforts to divide the Romanian people, Ponta in effect handed Iohannis the presidency. His populist, nationalistic campaign slogan - that he, the Orthodox Romanian, is the "good" Romanian - was his undoing. The motto was too artificial, the Social Democratic candidate's affectations were too implausible. If Ponta still has a shred of decency, he must step down - the sooner the better.

Pragmatic contender

Klaus Iohannis has shown quite formidably that a Protestant ethnic German politician can be a good Romanian, too. His pragmatic nature certainly helped. Voted mayor of Sibiu four times in a row, he proved not only to the citizens of his hometown but to the entire nation that he is serious when he speaks of a "job well done."

Yet Iohannis is also a man of small gestures. When asked at a press conference whether he was even familiar with the text of Romania's national anthem, he sang the first verse flawlessly. That touched a nerve with many undecided voters who apparently needed that last bit of proof before they cast their ballot for him.

Finally, a big round of applause for expat Romanians.

About 400,000 voters - three times as many as showed up for the first round of voting on November 2 - brought Iohannis a clear advance of more than 40 percent of the expat vote in the run-off, even though not all the polling stations allowed for a smooth vote. Just like two weeks ago, when thousands of expat Romanians were forced to leave the stations without having cast their ballot. This time, they stormed the polling stations to exercise their democratic rights.

No sign of election fatigue

Long lines in front of Romania's embassies and consulates in the European capitals led many a bystander to wonder: where else in the EU are people so keen to vote in 2014?

Before the Iron Curtain fell, Romanians had to stand in line for nights on end to get a stick of butter or two bananas for their children. This time, they lined up to give democracy in their country a new chance. Against their own government's wishes. And they persevered!

Now it's up to Iohannis to show that he deserves voters' trust while at the same time providing for balance and reconciliation as the president of all Romanians.