VIDEO | "Romania's voice in Europe and NATO has decreased." Ion Tăbârță warns that the rise of the sovereignists affects Bucharest's credibility and offers Russia leverage for destabilization

Romania remains an important factor of stability in the region and an essential strategic partner for the Republic of Moldova, but internal political confrontations and the rise of the sovereignist movement have diminished its influence and credibility on the European level. The conclusion belongs to analyst Ion Tăbârță, who states that the political turbulence that began with the 2024 presidential elections has affected Romania's image as a state firmly anchored in Euro-Atlantic structures. In an interview with journalist Valentina Ursu, the analyst claims that the Russian Federation is trying to exploit the dissatisfaction of a part of the Romanian electorate and use certain figures of the sovereignist movement to fuel political instability, including with effects on the relationship between Bucharest and Chișinău.

Valentina Ursu, journalist: "Is Romania's voice resounding in this region in these times?"

Ion Tabarta: "At a certain time it was very loud, now it is still important, but those internal political processes that Romania has gone through in recent years, starting with everything we had in the 2024 presidential elections, somehow, of course, put Romania in a certain context related to what is happening internally, because Romania is under the assault of these sovereignist powers. Of course, this detracts from the image of a state well anchored in everything that the Euro-Atlantic path and roots mean. This cannot but have an influence, although Romania still, as a state, maintains its position of being a factor of stability in the region."

The analyst believes that internal political problems also affect Bucharest's ability to make its position heard at the European level.

"The state institutions have remained strong, but what is happening politically, of course, cannot but affect Romania's image and credibility. Unfortunately, now Romania's voice at the European level, at the NATO level, has somehow decreased. We see that the same voice of Finland or President Alexander Stubb is heard at the European level rather than the voice, at least for now, of Nicușor Dan", considers Ion Tăbârță.

Valentina Ursu, journalist: "Why is the sovereignist current in Romania identified with Russia's interests?"

Ion Tabarta: "The sovereignist current is not necessarily, as an internal drive, one of pro-Russian inspiration. Another thing is that the Russian Federation has cleverly managed to sneak in certain people to be at the forefront of this sovereignist current and manipulate it, to use it against everything that European Romania stands for, to create internal destabilization and, of course, to affect the relationship with the Republic of Moldova."

Tăbârță explains the popularity of the sovereignist discourse, including through the social and economic dissatisfaction accumulated in Romanian society.

"Probably, certain frustrations have accumulated in Romanian society towards a certain status. Yes, Romanian society, being within the European Union, has gained certain advantages, social and economic benefits, in terms of well-being. However, over time, certain frustrations have accumulated among a part of the Romanian population and they somehow manifest these dissatisfactions towards, not necessarily being part of the European Union, but certain conditions of the way in which Romania is part of the European Union", said Tăbârță.

In the expert's opinion, these grievances are exploited by both politicians and external actors interested in weakening Romania's European orientation.

"And of course there were politicians, we also have the influence of the Russian Federation, which manipulates and uses them. And it is not only the case of Romania, it is the case of other European states as well", concluded analyst Ion Tăbârță.