A recent nationwide IPSOS poll, reflecting public sentiment in October 2025, has delivered a seismic shock to Romania’s democratic foundations: only 3% of citizens express trust in their political class. This figure is not just a measure of popularity; it is a declaration of a profound and systemic crisis of legitimacy that actively sabotages the very concept of Good Governance in Romania.

The data reveals the depth of public disillusionment: an overwhelming 82% of Romanians state they have no confidence in politicians. This scepticism extends to key executive bodies, with confidence in the sitting government plunging to a mere 6%. Such extreme political alienation makes the implementation of sound policy, necessary for sustained development, nearly impossible.

The Vicious Cycle of Distrust

Good Governance is built upon fundamental pillars: Transparency, Accountability, Effectiveness, and Responsiveness. When public trust collapses to 3%, the mechanism of effective governing breaks down across every one of these axes:

Sabotaging Accountability and Transparency

In a climate of profound distrust, the public operates on a default assumption that political action is driven by self-interest and corruption, not public service. When this cynicism becomes the national norm, genuine efforts towards accountability are dismissed as superficial or performative.

• Policy Resistance: Any long-term strategic plan—be it fiscal consolidation, administrative reform, or energy transition—is instantly viewed through a lens of suspicion. A government is unable to implement necessary, but initially unpopular, reforms because it lacks the public mandate (trust) required to ask citizens to accept short-term costs for future benefits.
• Corruption Normalisation: With over four-fifths of the population expressing complete non-confidence, the fight against corruption loses its popular resonance. For many citizens, corruption is no longer an anomaly to be eradicated, but an inherent, expected feature of the political system.

Undermining Effectiveness and Compliance

The lack of trust directly impacts the state’s ability to govern efficiently, turning administrative challenges into political obstacles.

• Erosion of Tax Compliance: Good governance requires citizens to respect the rule of law and willingly comply with state regulations, notably tax obligations. When the public perceives that their money is funnelled to an untrustworthy elite, they are far less likely to cooperate. The 3% trust level is inherently linked to high rates of tax evasion and reluctance to comply, starving the state of the resources needed to deliver quality public services.
• Instability and Populism: This systemic failure creates fertile ground for anti-establishment, populist, and radical movements. These factions capitalise on the public’s anger, offering simplistic, short-term solutions that further destabilise the political environment and discourage the complex, long-term policy-making essential for Good Governance.

The Imperative for a Good Governance Overhaul

The 3% trust rating is not a call for better PR; it is a demand for transformation. To survive this crisis of legitimacy, the political class must fundamentally reorient itself toward measurable Good Governance principles:

• Results-Driven Mandate: The focus must shift from political maneuvering to delivering tangible results in public services—modernizing healthcare, improving infrastructure, and streamlining bureaucracy. Visible competence is the only currency that can begin to repurchase public faith.
• Uncompromising Integrity: Political parties must take decisive, public action against corruption within their ranks, demonstrating that they place institutional integrity above party loyalty.
• Structured Dialogue: Governance must become genuinely responsive. This means establishing effective mechanisms for citizen and stakeholder consultation, moving past superficial debates, and ensuring that public feedback fundamentally shapes legislative output.

The extreme lack of faith reflected in this poll signals that the old political operating model is obsolete. For Romania to secure its democratic stability and fulfil its economic potential, the political class must acknowledge the 3% as its final warning and embark on a sincere, radical path toward transparent and accountable Good Governance.

Even a minor mistake can have significant consequences when representing a country on the world stage. Recently, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis made headlines for an unfortunate slip at a European summit. He misstated the capital of a neighbouring nation. This simple error quickly drew criticism, and some worry it may strain Romania’s already delicate relationship with Hungary. Such moments offer valuable lessons in diplomacy and leadership, especially in regions with complex histories like Central and Eastern Europe.

Why Details Matter in Diplomacy

Diplomacy is all about respect, attention to detail, and understanding the subtle nuances that define each culture and country. When a leader misnames a neighbouring country’s capital, it can come across as uninformed or dismissive. This perception is susceptible to Romania and Hungary, two countries with close geographical ties and shared economic interests but also a complicated past. Even a tiny error can set off ripples, impacting how citizens, politicians, and businesses view their cross-border relationships.

Setting the Tone: Why Leaders Must Lead by Example

As the public face of their nation, leaders are responsible for representing their country with accuracy and grace. When a mistake happens at this level, it’s not just about one individual—it reflects on the nation as a whole. President Iohannis’s misstep is a reminder that diplomatic conduct has real consequences. These moments set the tone for how other nations view Romania and how Romanians see themselves in the global community.

How to Avoid Diplomatic Blunders

High-profile figures can—and should—take steps to prevent these mistakes. Leaders like President Iohannis can set a better example by embracing a few key practices:

1. Preparation is Essential: Knowing the facts about the countries involved in a meeting or event shows respect and builds confidence among diplomatic partners. It’s crucial to get these basics right.
2. Sensitivity Training: Leaders benefit from training that gives them a grounding in the culture and norms of the countries they work with, even if it’s just a refresher before a big event.
3. A Detailed Review: Speechwriters and advisors play a crucial role here. Reviewing all the small details, including country names and titles, can prevent embarrassing moments.
4. Owning Mistakes: When a misstep does happen, a prompt apology goes a long way. Acknowledging the error shows humility and respect for those affected.

What This Means for Romanian-Hungarian Relations

Romania and Hungary have a long history together, and while relations have improved, they remain sensitive. Simple diplomatic missteps can stir up old wounds, potentially creating friction in a relationship that’s been carefully managed over the years. For Romania’s leaders, it’s a reminder that fostering trust and respect requires vigilance, especially with neighbours who share complex histories.

Moving Forward: Protecting Romania’s Image on the World Stage

Moments like these underscore the importance of preparation, respect, and a clear commitment to getting the details right. Romania has an opportunity to reaffirm its dedication to thoughtful and respectful diplomacy, ensuring that future interactions reflect a strong, well-prepared, and globally mindful nation.

Romania’s President is missing – this is what an Opposition deputy in Romania complained about when he went to the police station to file a missing person case. This could be the best political marketing stunt in years, and the Opposition Party AUR did it. The party is seen as a nationalist, far-right and extremist, isolated in Romania’s political scene for this labelling. However, their actions make all the political marketing experts take notes.

Romania’s President has been missing since December 18, the last day he was publicly seen. Thirty days later, AUR deputy Adrian Axinia went to a police station in Bucharest and filed a formal complaint for the missing person. The case was related to prime-time news by all major TV stations in Romania and all the major news platforms.

Also, the other major Opposition party, the so-called Reformists, USR, posted on Facebook a visual asking for any information about the missing President Johannis.

These complaints are pure political marketing, not else. Romania has four elections in 2024, and the campaigns have just started. However, Johannis is a fake target, as he is in his second presidential term. The real target is the Liberal Political Party – PNL, the now ruling party, and the Socialists. PNL is the party initially supporting Johannis for the presidential elections and his ten-year presidential mandate.

The Opposition exploits citizens’ complaints about their president, among which his notorious missing from office to take long and exotic vacations is only one of them.

Due to the Romanian Government’s lobby, Romanians living in Spain will soon have dual citizenship. The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, will arrive in Romania at the end of January to sign the agreement between the two governments. The two parties have already agreed on the document’s final version.

This success started in 2022 when a joint meeting of the Spanish and Romanian Governments was organized in Spain. At that moment, the Romanian part asked for the Romanians living in Spain to be allowed to have dual citizenship. After that meeting, dual commissions have been established to work on the agenda to fulfil what is now possible.

According to the existing law, the Romanians in Spain who want to get Spanish citizenship must give up their Romanian citizenship. After the two governments sign the agreement, they will get a second citizenship without giving up the Romanian one. Also, they will get jobs, such as in the Spanish Army, administration or police.

So far, this privilege of dual citizenship has been offered only to French and Portuguese nationals, and Romania has become the third country Spain offers this.

More than 1 million Romanians live in Spain, while around 600,000 have residency. Romanians form one of the largest communities of foreigners in Spain.