Expert about the elections in Romania: "The Republic of Moldova will have a say"
The presidential elections in Romania are entering a decisive stage, and the vote of the diaspora, including Romanian citizens in the Republic of Moldova, could have a significant impact on the final result. Sociology expert Tatiana Cojocari also explained in the show IN CONTEXT that the changes that have occurred in Romanian society will influence electoral choices. She anticipates different results compared to the previous election: "things have changed in Romania, and Moldovan citizens understand this."
"It will matter a lot how the diaspora votes and the Republic of Moldova will have a say", says Tatiana Cojocari, who believes that domestic priorities will dominate the political agenda in Bucharest. On the other hand, Cojocari observes an increasingly accentuated polarization in Romanian society. "We have a camp that believes that, in this moment of international instability, Romania needs stability. This must be understood by people from the Republic of Moldova, but also from Romania."
Although the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine remain important partners in the region, "these two states do not represent priority topics on Romania's national agenda." "Romania is on the verge of a budget deficit, of a possible economic crisis. There is a very big problem related to the way the institutions function (...) The priority now is to regain people's trust in the institutions. That is precisely why a reset of the system is needed."
As for the candidates with real chances, Tatiana Cojocari estimates that George Simion will advance to the second round, while a competition is emerging for second place between Crin Antonescu, Nicușor Dan, Victor Ponta and Elena Lasconi. However, the candidates from the liberal-democratic area are not yet convincing the voters. "The offer in Romania is quite rich, but no candidate lives up to the expectations of the majority. The electorate is fragmented. Disappointment persists (...) They all offer something, but they do not offer what the people of Romania want: a change in the system, institutions that respect the law not only when it suits them."
The sociologist also draws attention to the fact that Romania must consolidate its position in the international context. "Romania can play an important role in the context of the Russian war in Ukraine," but adds that the lack of a clear commitment from the US weakens the sense of security. "The American presence in Romania is a deterrent for Russia. But if Romania no longer has this umbrella, the same insecurity extends to the other EU member states."
Finally, the sociologist warned that a coherent foreign policy and a functional democracy are essential for Romania's future and, implicitly, for the stability of the region. "It's good to understand these things and make the appropriate choices", concluded Tatiana Cojocari.
We remind you that the electoral campaign for the presidential elections in Romania started on April 4 and will end on May 3, the day before the first round of voting. The second round is scheduled for May 18. For the first time in the presidential elections in Romania, three consecutive days of TV debates with the participation of the candidates are taking place.
11 candidates are fighting in the race for Cotroceni. Among them are current and former party leaders, former members of the Government, the mayor of Bucharest and candidates who also participated in the November 2024 elections.
