Former allies accused the Romanian president of appeasing populist forces
BUCHAREST – Once the EU’s darling, Romanian President Nicușor Dan is now under fire from former allies, who accuse him of exploiting – and even engineering – Romania’s political crisis while adopting an increasingly nationalist, MAGA-style posture.
The shift marks a sharp reversal from last year, when Dan was widely seen across the EU as the preferred presidential candidate to counter Russian influence and rising right-wing nationalism.
Last Thursday, Dan cancelled a Europe Day reception in Bucharest due to host Roberta Metsola. He said he needed to focus on the fallout from a 5 May no-confidence vote that toppled Romania’s government. Critics saw the move as a snub.
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