Interim president reaffirms Romania’s role as reliable ally to EU and NATO After election controversy

Romania's Interim President, Ilie Bolojan, reassured the European Union (EU) and NATO allies that Romania remains steadfast in its commitments, despite recent political challenges.

“As Romania's acting president, I assure all our partners and allies that Romania remains a reliable ally, firmly committed to a cohesive EU, a stronger NATO, and a strong transatlantic partnership,” Bolojan stated on X, in response to criticisms from US Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media outlets.

Vance had earlier criticized some European allies for restricting freedom of speech and undermining democratic values, singling out Romania for cancelling its December 2024 presidential election.

Romania's electoral process became controversial after the first round of the presidential election on November 24, 2024, in which independent candidate Calin Georgescu emerged as the frontrunner.

However, on December 6, the Romanian Constitutional Court annulled the election results, calling for a new election and confirming that Klaus Iohannis would remain president until a new leader was elected. Although Iohannis' term officially expired on December 21, he continued to serve in an interim capacity.

On February 12, 2025, Iohannis resigned, under threat of removal, and Ilie Bolojan assumed the role of acting president. Bolojan will hold this position until the presidential elections, which are scheduled for May 4, with a possible runoff on May 18, 2025.

By Tamilla Hasanova