In the democratic world, political operators consider the first three months of an elected official’s term important because they represent a brief period in which the public is understanding, forgiving, there are no strong adverse reactions, and the leader can take advantage to strengthen their connection with those they guide and lead, trying to show that they have not forgotten what they promised during the campaign.
Although I am by no means an admirer of Donald Trump, I cannot overlook the fact that in the first 100 days of his term, he did everything possible to satisfy MAGA, the political movement that ensured his success.
Even though many of his actions were rejected by judges, in the early weeks of his term, Trump signed dozens of executive orders, even made a show out of it, launched an unprecedented campaign against migration, criticized by many for the abuses of the officers involved in hunting those without documents, but it was the most important issue in the electoral campaign.
Large pizza, medium pizza
On Tuesday, August 26, it will be 100 days since Nicușor Dan, an independent candidate supported by USR, arrived at the Cotroceni Palace following an electoral confrontation with George Simion, the leader of AUR, a nationalist and extremist party.
During this period, the new president of Romania held two major press conferences, made two visits to Moldova, one to Austria, participated in the NATO summit, and fought against the extremism law, to list the most important moments of this transition period.
"If you want an analogy with pizza, for years, we've been paying for a medium pizza and eating a large pizza," was one of the first memorable statements made by Nicușor Dan, in his first press conference on June 4, 2025.
At that time, he appeared before the public opinion as a president extremely involved in executive issues, concerned with finding quick and efficient solutions to reduce the deficit.
But tensions with Ilie Bolojan, arising around the decision to increase VAT just before the liberal leader was nominated for the position of prime minister, made Nicușor Dan take steps back, disconnect from the Executive's activities, with the traditional rupture between the Cotroceni Palace and the Victoria Palace appearing before the formation of the new government.
A religious holiday
The controversy with Prime Minister Bolojan made Nicușor Dan focus more on foreign policy, develop relations with Maia Sandu and the Republic of Moldova, especially in the context of the important parliamentary elections in this country, decisive for its European future.
Despite the change in strategy, Nicușor Dan appears disconnected from the people's issues, and without a clear political compass.
Many commentators, politicians, opinion leaders raised eyebrows when the new president started a difficult-to-understand battle with the extremism law, a long-awaited and discussed provision, especially in the context of Russia's strong attack on Romania at the end of last year.
Currently, after losing at the Constitutional Court, Nicușor Dan has sent the law back to Parliament for re-examination.
From this struggle, according to comments and reactions, at least a part of the public opinion understands that the current president aims to protect far-right political movements.
This trend was also confirmed by the decision to be absent from Navy Day, as the president is the commander of the armed forces, choosing a religious trip to monasteries, some of which are meeting places for Legionarism apologists.
Good reactions, bad reactions
I would not have made such an association if I didn't have information from multiple sources indicating that the president's decision was seen as a slight in military circles and a huge gaffe in the political world, one that even Nicușor Dan tried to rectify through a visit to the Special Operations Command in Târgu Mureș.
"Much respect and gratitude to the soldiers from the Special Operations Forces Command! We thank them for their professionalism and loyalty! They are the ones who contribute to our security and to Romania's commitments within NATO and the EU," wrote the president on his Facebook page on August 20, five days after the controversial absence from the ceremonies in Constanța.
The first three months of President Nicușor Dan's term, in my opinion, have been strange. I have not understood the direction in which he wants to steer the country, although I have noticed a clear and encouraging position regarding Russia, a successful action to rebuild ties with Moldova, which had faded in the latter part of Iohannis's term, a strong message of belonging to the European Union and NATO, substantial support for Ukraine, which for the first time was explained as a strategy to keep the Kremlin as far away from Romania's borders as possible.
The postponement strategy
On the other hand, detachment from internal political issues has been visible, leaving the entire burden of economic rebalancing on Bolojan and a dysfunctional coalition, as well as postponing the resolution of major national security issues generated by Russia's hybrid attack, which led to the cancellation of the presidential elections in November 2024.
I am not at all satisfied with the anti-corruption process. There are entire areas of corruption neglected by the Romanian state, and as soon as we finish with this deficit issue and forming the Government, the justice part will be my main concern. Including discussions with the heads of the prosecutors' offices, discussions about the management plans of the new chief prosecutors who will have a mandate starting from the beginning of 2026.
Nicușor Dan, President of Romania, statement from June 4, 2025
Furthermore, the SRI (Romanian Intelligence Service) still does not have a civilian director, entering the third year of complete disconnection from citizens, and there has been a long silence regarding the reform of the intelligence services.
In many instances during this period, Nicușor Dan has recalled the leader who left his party, which he founded after an internal debate. This refers to the situation created in May 2017, when the current president resigned from leading USR because he did not have support in the party on the issue of the traditional family - a referendum seeking to amend the Constitution.
In others, Nicușor Dan has evoked the Mayor of Bucharest from his first term, who, after winning the elections, isolated himself for three years, communicating sporadically and returning for the new electoral campaign.
Due to the shock in society following the cancellation of the presidential elections and the projection of Călin Georgescu, Russia's candidate, as a mystical savior, Nicușor Dan faces difficulties in asserting himself as the elected leader to guide Romania in one of the most turbulent periods since 1990.
The country's destiny also depends on his success, with the first days of his term being a deliberate delay of important decisions.