{"id":19848,"date":"2025-03-21T06:24:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-21T06:24:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reinvantage-dev.eonserver.com\/?p=19848"},"modified":"2025-03-21T06:24:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T06:24:00","slug":"romania-shaken-but-with-proven-democratic-resilience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reinvantage-dev.eonserver.com\/?p=19848","title":{"rendered":"Romania: Shaken, but with proven democratic resilience"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Romania has weathered\u00a0a\u00a0political storm, but it remains firmly anchored in\u00a0the\u00a0democratic and Western world.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0cancellation<\/a> of Romania\u2019s presidential elections in December 2024 and\u00a0the\u00a0decision to reschedule them for May 2025 raised serious concerns both at home and abroad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At first glance, this unprecedented move might suggest\u00a0a\u00a0breakdown of democracy. But while Romania is undoubtedly facing\u00a0a\u00a0turbulent moment,\u00a0the\u00a0reality is more nuanced. Beneath\u00a0the\u00a0institutional chaos,\u00a0the\u00a0country\u2019s democratic and institutional foundations have proven more resilient than many assume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is crucial to distinguish between poorly explained election interference and\u00a0the\u00a0outright absence of electoral integrity and respect for democratic norms.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0December 2024 presidential election, following on\u00a0the\u00a0heels of successful local, parliamentary and European parliamentary elections\u00a0the\u00a0same year, was marred by an institutional failure that should never have happened and by Romania\u2019s recurring weakness in strategic communication (seen also during\u00a0the\u00a0Covid-19 pandemic). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Romanian institutions must do far better to justify their existence before\u00a0the\u00a0public.\u00a0The delayed explanations for the election’s annulment\u2014coming in February and March rather than December\u2014only deepened suspicions. However, despite\u00a0the\u00a0opacity,\u00a0the\u00a0explanations did come, marking an important step toward accountability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At\u00a0the\u00a0core of what happened last year\u2014without dismissing foreign interference and\u00a0the\u00a0role of anti-democratic political and ideological entrepreneurs\u2014is\u00a0the\u00a0failure of mainstream political parties to understand, legitimise and address\u00a0the public\u2019s grievances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead of addressing these concerns, they responded with self-sufficiency and arrogance. This failure is best exemplified by former President Klaus Iohannis, whose lack of leadership was on full display. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His presidency was defined by complacency, detachment, and\u00a0a\u00a0preference for pomp and luxury over governance. When faced with Romania\u2019s political crisis, he managed it as ineffectively as his ill-fated NATO leadership campaign\u2014so poorly that even President Donald Trump reportedly dismissed him outright. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resilience in difficult times<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Despite these challenges and\u00a0the shortcomings of mainstream politicians, Romania\u2019s institutions have endured under immense stress, proving their resilience even in extraordinary circumstances.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The legitimacy and goodwill afforded by decades of successful elections and peaceful transfers of power, with\u00a0the\u00a0backdrop of growing prosperity and functionality, have proven stronger than either\u00a0the\u00a0delegitimising efforts of frustrated politicians or\u00a0the\u00a0high-handed bumbling of\u00a0the\u00a0country\u2019s leadership when faced with\u00a0a\u00a0challenge from out of left field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0precise nature of\u00a0the\u00a0alleged Russian interference in the presidential election remains to be further determined and explained to both domestic and foreign audiences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, one thing is evident to American observers: it is impossible to run\u00a0a legitimate campaign with zero spending, as was\u00a0the\u00a0claimed case for\u00a0the\u00a0banned radical-right candidate C\u0103lin Georgescu. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

His doubling down on\u00a0the\u00a0idea of spontaneous coordination by individual volunteers to advance\u00a0a\u00a0highly professional campaign is even more ludicrous. Moreover, his highly controversial current and past statements on NATO and EU membership, military spending, F-35 acquisitions, and\u00a0the\u00a0presence of US bases in Romania have called into question some of Romania\u2019s key foreign and defence policy pillars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They have also raised eyebrows due to their striking similarity to Russia\u2019s talking points, coupled with\u00a0a\u00a0strategy of rhetorical shifts in\u00a0the\u00a0Overton window, with appeals to ‘Russian wisdom’ or ‘the\u00a0complicated history of Romania\u2019s heroes’. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What we are witnessing is not\u00a0a\u00a0rejection of democracy or Romania\u2019s Euro-Atlantic path\u2014it is\u00a0a\u00a0revolt against\u00a0a political mainstream that has failed to deliver and especially to inspire, and an exceptional, last-resort counter-reaction by Romanian institutions against\u00a0a\u00a0candidate who disregarded campaign financing rules and undermined key elements of\u00a0the\u00a0constitutional order. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes,\u00a0the\u00a0Constitutional Court may have taken an activist approach to protecting democracy, but Georgescu\u2019s statements and actions\u2014including his close association with Romanian mercenaries linked to Prigozhin\u2019s Wagner group in Africa, about which he was caught lying\u2014brought up more red flags than anyone had thought possible before\u00a0the\u00a0elections.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The public recognises this, as\u00a0the\u00a0weak nature of protests (remarked on by Georgescu himself) and\u00a0the\u00a0refrain from violence by all but\u00a0paid agitators can attest.\u00a0The\u00a0electorate is wary but\u00a0the\u00a0political class has obviously been given\u00a0a\u00a0chance to explain itself and do things better.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0strength of\u00a0the\u00a0debates and strategising surrounding\u00a0the\u00a0May presidential elections is also encouraging\u2014as philosopher Ernest Gellner once remarked,\u00a0the\u00a0true problems start when formal political contests are no longer seen as\u00a0the\u00a0way to advance one\u2019s interests and resolve disputes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The court of global opinion<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Romania is one of\u00a0the\u00a0most pro-EU and pro-NATO countries in Europe, with over 80 per cent of\u00a0the\u00a0population supporting continued membership. However,\u00a0the\u00a0country\u2019s international image has suffered, and rebuilding trust\u2014both domestically and with strategic partners\u2014will require significant effort. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was not by how global audiences were primed for negative narratives by\u00a0the\u00a0decades of airing dirty laundry in public. This was\u00a0a\u00a0hallmark of Romanian reform efforts, but has done it no favours in\u00a0the\u00a0court of global opinion, despite\u00a0the\u00a0positive things implied by\u00a0the\u00a0strength of\u00a0the\u00a0discourse in\u00a0the\u00a0fight against corruption and\u00a0the applicability of\u00a0the\u00a0rule of law even to\u00a0the\u00a0strongest in society.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0effort to rectify Romania\u2019s image should not come in\u00a0the\u00a0form of punishing\u00a0the\u00a0Romanian people for\u00a0the failures of their leadership and institutions. Those same Romanians have searched for\u00a0a\u00a0strategic partnership that would provide\u00a0the\u00a0stability and credible protection that\u00a0the country\u2019s location have historically required, but have also risen to\u00a0the\u00a0challenge of faithfully supporting Alliance activities, shouldering their due burden, enhancing military capabilities, and trying to become\u00a0a\u00a0regional security provider. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather, Romania must embark on\u00a0the\u00a0road to renormalisation, which will culminate in\u00a0the\u00a0May presidential election, and reaffirm its commitment to democratic values and stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neither is\u00a0the\u00a0solution to be found in disengagement or\u00a0a diminished American presence in Romania. On\u00a0the contrary, Romanians have overwhelmingly welcomed the US presence, and Washington should recognise that Romania remains\u00a0a\u00a0steadfast and useful ally, and that its presence in Romania ensures\u00a0a\u00a0key node for global power projection.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Romania can emerge stronger<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The\u00a0events of 2024 need to be carefully explained, both to\u00a0the\u00a0Romanian public and to Romania\u2019s American and European partners. Once Romania puts its house in order post-election, it must also launch an external charm offensive to restore credibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Importantly, Romania should not become another flashpoint or even\u00a0a\u00a0rhetorical football in\u00a0the\u00a0growing rift between\u00a0the US and Western Europe, whose issues have been simmering since long before Eastern NATO expansion. None of\u00a0the\u00a0countries on\u00a0the\u00a0Eastern Flank want this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, Romania can take\u00a0the\u00a0lead in playing\u00a0a\u00a0constructive role in refocusing transatlantic relations on\u00a0a\u00a0foundation of enhanced security and equitable economic cooperation.\u00a0The country has weathered\u00a0a\u00a0political storm, but it remains firmly anchored in\u00a0the\u00a0democratic and Western world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With\u00a0the\u00a0right leadership and strategic recalibration, Romania can emerge stronger from this crisis\u2014not just as\u00a0a\u00a0stable democracy, but as\u00a0a\u00a0key player in reinforcing\u00a0the\u00a0Euro-Atlantic alliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Photo by Calin Stan<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

At Emerging Europe, we use an integrated approach centred around market intelligence to help organisations understand trends and strategically position themselves for success.  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn how our solutions can help you thrive in the region:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Company and Services Overview<\/a> | Strategic Advantage<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Romania has weathered\u00a0a\u00a0political storm, but it remains firmly anchored in\u00a0the\u00a0democratic and Western world. The\u00a0cancellation of Romania\u2019s presidential elections in December 2024 and\u00a0the\u00a0decision to reschedule them for [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19849,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[8055,21,6320,6849,6596,237,6603,6668],"class_list":["post-19848","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion","tag-calin-georgescu","tag-economy-politics","tag-featured","tag-klaus-iohannis","tag-nato","tag-romania","tag-russia","tag-united-states"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/reinvantage-dev.eonserver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19848","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/reinvantage-dev.eonserver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/reinvantage-dev.eonserver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reinvantage-dev.eonserver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reinvantage-dev.eonserver.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=19848"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/reinvantage-dev.eonserver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19848\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reinvantage-dev.eonserver.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/19849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/reinvantage-dev.eonserver.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=19848"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reinvantage-dev.eonserver.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=19848"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reinvantage-dev.eonserver.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=19848"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}