site.btaSociologists on Why Pro-EU Romanians Vote for Anti-EU Candidates

The latest Eurobaromete survey found that 70% of Romanians believe the EU has brought them benefits, the Adevarul daily reported. Also, 74% of Europeans believe that their country benefits significantly from EU membership. This is the highest level of support for the EU among European citizens since these measurements began. The daily says, however, that in the most recent presidential elections, Romanians voted against pro-European candidates.

A recent opinion poll reflected a similar trend. It placed two representatives of the sovereigntist camp at the top: George Simion, the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), and Victor Ponta, the former leader of the Social Democratic Party.

One month before the vote, Adevarul sought an explanation of this paradox from Remus Stefureac, director of the INSCOP polling agency, and political analysts Cristian Pirvulescu and Sergiu Miscoiu.

"Romanians voted against the political class, not against the EU," said Remus Stefureac. "The essence of the vote was not anti-European; on the contrary, it was an internal critique. There is a strong expectation among Romanians that the country be better represented, more competently, in the European Union, so as to attract even more benefits, if possible." 

Prof. Cristian Pirvulescu argued that the problem lies with politicians, not with voters. "We do not have candidates with pro-European rhetoric. There are no messages in that direction. Pro-European discourse is considered inadequate."

He cited the example of Crin Antonescu, the candidate of the ruling coalition, who is presented as pro-European, yet speaks against European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and against global warming, and criticizes the Green Deal.

Prof. Sergiu Miscoiu from Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca said: "I don't know which European would appreciate this kind of rhetoric. Even Nicusor Dan, who is considered a pro-European candidate, does not have a structured pro-European message; their consultants and PR advisors tell them not to use that kind of discourse. The reason is that, on the one hand, they do not know how to operationalize the European idea for the different types of voters, and on the other, it is much more convenient, easier, to address those who are sure to vote and who are not pro-European."

He cited as an example presidential candidate Mircea Geoana, who ran in last November's election using very pro-Euro-Atlantic, diplomatic and Western rhetoric, but it didn't work.

"Europe is not that important for the outcome of presidential elections in Romania. It is just one aspect of the vote, which is influenced by many other aspects. The issue of corruption and anti-corruption may be very important in this election campaign, to the detriment of the mainstream candidates - above all, probably, to the detriment of Crin Antonescu. We are not in a situation where European issues are the main driver of electoral choices," Sergiu Miscoiu said.