Mathematician and Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan has remained steadfast in his support of a pro-Western policy, despite the threat emanating from Russia.
Highlighting his beliefs, Dan is confidently pro-European, though he is not turning his back on good relations with US President Donald Trump’s administration in Washington.
“I want Romania to maintain its pro-Western direction,” Dan said in a joint interview with Euronews and Euronews Romania, “which means pro-European, for Romania to be active in the European Union.”
“On the other hand, I want to preserve the strategic partnership Romania has with the United States, which is very important, especially in the security area.”
Asked about Trump himself, Dan underlined pragmatism in Romania’s approach with his administration.
“Romania has a strategic partnership with the US that I want to see continued and expanded. I would like a greater presence of American companies in Romania,” he pointed out.
“And I would obviously like a retention of American troops in Romania, which is an additional security guarantee for Romania.”
The biggest question hanging over the election, though, is what has led to Simion’s meteoric rise on the right, an event that saw the first attempt at the election cancelled because of alleged irregularities in the first round.
“It is a failure of the traditional political class, one that was exploited by those who shouted louder, who had stronger, more populist messages,” Dan says of his opponent’s success.
“Romania has a big problem, which is corruption. This is the reason why the doubling of GDP in the last 10 years has not been reflected in the living conditions of ordinary people,” Dan said.
“Romania has a problem with the functioning of the state apparatus that people, again, see very well. But on the other hand, Romania has the resources to correct all these things and transfer the economy to prosperity.”
The Bucharest mayor and his nationalist opponent offered sharply differing attitudes on support for Ukraine in their first television debate, hosted by Euronews Romania.
In the interview conducted prior to the debate, Dan said he wanted to remain aligned with Western partners, more importantly, from Western Europe, as he explains it is about the “security of Romania and the Republic of Moldova at stake.”
“In the event that I am president, I will campaign for this within the European structures,” Dan said.
Dan has an uphill battle receiving 21% of the vote on Sunday compared to 41% from Simion. The second round will take place on 18 May, with the future direction of Western alliances at stake.
Domestically, Dan will look to stabilise Romania financially, with a first quarter deficit of 2.3%. “That means a prediction of a 9% deficit per year, which is not healthy at all, the target being 7%.”
“This is the first thing that needs to be done, limit certain expenses, see what are the obstacles to attracting European funds, very high pressure on big tax evasion and also on the functioning of state-owned companies, on the management of state-owned companies,” Dan concluded.
Additional sources • Jesse Dimich-Louvet
