It is still very difficult to establish who is right in the controversy over the Unirii Square board without knowing exactly, beyond the rhetoric of political warfare, what the real state of the construction is. Even the legal issue is not crystal clear.
It is indeed true that Nicușor Dan agreed in 2022 for the work to be done by the Sector 4 City Hall, and that Mayor Băluță only felt the urgency two years after this agreement and also two years after the expertise conducted on the board.
But the truth always matters the least, in any case less than emotions. Emotions are much better defined than opinions based on facts and certain data, and emotions create perception.
The Battle of Public Perception
The battle of public perception was won by Nicușor Dan. The way hostilities unfolded, literally, in Unirii Square projected the key elements of the classic typology that Romanians, and not only them, adore - standing alone against the dragon.
And the dragon, especially in today's big urban areas, is the established politics. Politics that embezzles public funds, that speaks and behaves slickly, that muddles words and countless lies. In Bucharest, for many, this dragon also has a name - PSD.
Nicușor Dan is contrary to this typology: he speaks little, too little, and rather clumsily, with no appetite for the spotlight, he has an awkward air. He doesn't rush to the cameras, displays modesty, and is not part of any political party.
It is certainly a recipe for great success, proven as such in the recent elections in Bucharest. A recipe that Nicușor Dan increasingly visibly builds a different political profile upon.
Gifts for Nicușor Dan
The whole scandal brought him an unexpected gift, with multiple advantages:
- A new and strong profiling as a fighter in a different way than through courts, as it was until now. He went to the field with a bulldozer, much like he used to do in the time of Traian Băsescu.
- A victory in the face of an authentic show of force. A mathematically predictable victory because the last thing Marcel Ciolacu needed in this campaign was to anger Bucharest. And Nicușor Dan is currently the newly re-elected mayor of the Capital, benefiting from the image and sympathy bonus of the winner.
It was logical that Marcel Cioacu would immediately order the cessation of any hostilities by appealing to his own brand in this electoral race - that of a peacemaker.
- An argument for the referendum he announced on the evening of June 9 and about which he has not mentioned since then, until now. This referendum is no longer about centralizing power, as it could have been interpreted coldly, but about "here's what they want to do and they must be stopped".
What should be stopped?
On one hand, the construction site itself. Why should blocking the construction site be more popular than its opening, especially when, as I mentioned, it is not at all clear whether the area is very dangerous or not.
And out of sympathy for the reelected mayor, but also because Bucharesters are exasperated by construction sites that suffocate what was left acceptable of traffic.
So, I have no doubt, many feel saved by Nicușor Dan by stopping the construction site that would have turned Unirii Square into an even bigger hell than it is now.
It should be noted that the referendum should take place alongside the first round of the presidential elections, which would make Nicușor Dan a major trophy in this battle. And trophies are won with effort and the right investment.
On the other hand, stopping the temptation of absolute power of the PSD, the shadow of the party that every time it had the chance, took over everything. The last push, from the time of Dragnea, is not that far away.
It was in vain that some of USR tried to get into the picture in Unirii Square, it was in vain that Nicolae Ciucă sent a message of support on Facebook. After winning the board battle, Nicușor Dan is perceived as the most important opponent of PSD, which could have very important effects in the coming year.
Has he aimed for this effect? As I said, Nicușor Dan is an atypical politician, but increasingly a politician. So, the answer is most likely affirmative.
What will the ICCJ decide?
An important moment awaits Nicușor Dan - the ICCJ will decide if he was, as ANI claims, incompatible. He won in the first instance at the CAB, but the ICCJ postponed the pronouncement, the next hearing being on October 22, a day after the CGMB meeting that should decide on the referendum's convocation.
If Nicușor Dan wins before the ICCJ, his profile as a winner will be reconsolidated. If he loses, he will lose the mandate gained on June 9 and will be under a 3-year ban from holding a public office.
However, he will gain immense victimization for 4 years, as there are no elections in Romania during that time, so he wouldn't have anything to run for anyway. Based on this victimization and the perception of being a mafia enemy, he can build a formidable position from which to attack future elections wherever he wants, still at the mayoralty or even the presidency.