In Romania’s integration into European capitalism, the tough years after the 2008 crisis broke the illusion of continuous progress. The losers of that period are today swinging to far-right parties who tell a story of national victimhood.

Romania’s recent elections saw surging support for “ultranationalist” candidates — especially after a breakthrough for the eccentric Călin Georgescu. The December 2024 cancellation of the initial first-round results over claims of Russian interference soon plunged the race into turmoil, heightening the sense of mounting pressure on the country’s institutions.

The eventual rerun this May handed victory to former Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan, a pro-European candidate, albeit not without a strong showing for Donald Trump admirer George Simion. Despite Dan’s

See Full Page