Donald Trump’s victory in the US elections has caused euphoria and a radical change in at least one of the politicians in Romania, namely Victor Ponta.
Rarely has anyone attentive to the impact of political events in recent decades had the opportunity to witness such a rapid and enthusiastic shift of a former prime minister from left to right.
Effectively, overnight, the new deputy from Dâmbovița became a supporter of the USA and Donald Trump, after decades of profiling himself as an admirer of China.
On Sunday, February 2, PSD organized an extraordinary congress to validate Crin Antonescu as the party's nomination for the presidential elections in May.
The event was a hybrid one, as they say, with many party representatives participating online.
There was quite a bit of discussion about this decision, with some social democrats commenting unofficially that the chosen solution was also to prevent Deputy Victor Ponta from addressing the party.
And indeed, the former PSD leader made a big deal on social media about not being allowed to speak in front of the social democrats.
Romania's Interests Are Now Aligned with the USA
In a video posted on his Facebook page, Ponta is seen climbing the steps of the Palace of Parliament, where the event took place, announcing: "I came to speak in front of the congress! But it's best to speak in front of the Romanians! And to put Romania first!"
"I wanted to speak in front of the congress, but I did not have this right," Victor Ponta announced in another post where he delivers a brief speech.
"Romania's sovereign interest is now compatible with that of the USA; and the Romanian people (in its vast majority) now desire a radical change in politics and technology, as promoted now by the Trump Administration," announced Victor Ponta in a text distributed on social media on January 31, before the PSD Congress.
In 2010, when he was elected president of the PSD, Victor Ponta presented himself as a young left-wing political leader. His speeches, positions, all were marked by the concern he showed for the disadvantaged.
Subtly, in this area of his concerns, there was also the connection with the political regime in China, which he presented as being more equitable than "capitalism".
Keeping an Eye on Marcel Ciolacu
After a decade and a half, during which he recorded a series of political successes, but also defeats that left him at a standstill, the former PSD leader is attempting a spectacular comeback to the forefront of Romanian politics on the wave created by Donald Trump's victory in the USA.
"It's in vain that the Sorosist system tries to cling to power by replacing Iohannis with Antonescu, simply, this time, without the external support it had in 2014, they cannot defeat popular will!" wrote Victor Ponta on his Facebook page.
According to discussions with PSD representatives, speaking on condition of anonymity, Ponta's main objective is to position himself as the main candidate to take over the position of party president.
"I have changed a lot in the last 10 years and I needed to change! But I have never brought shame to Romania; I have said that I am a patriot in front of the whole world and I put Romania first! Even though the System has punished me and is preparing to punish me again, I still believe I did the right thing!"
Victor Ponta, PSD deputy
Marcel Ciolacu will keep his position as PSD leader as long as he holds the position of prime minister, according to the same sources.
Given the major challenges facing the current prime minister, it is expected that at some point a difficult situation will arise leading to a change in government, especially after the arrival of a new president at the Cotroceni Palace.
No Mention of Russia
In a response to spotmedia.ro, Victor Ponta stated that he has not yet decided whether he will run for the presidency of Romania or not.
"I will announce publicly when I make the decision," he emphasized.
Immediately after the parliamentary elections at the beginning of December, when he won the position of PSD deputy in Dâmbovița County, Victor Ponta began an intense political comeback campaign, making two trips to the USA, one to Doha, Qatar, where he participated in a political forum, as well as frequent public appearances on television, in podcasts, and on social media.
The message he repeats whenever he has the opportunity is that the world has changed with Donald Trump's return to the White House, and Romania, too, must change rapidly, mainly by distancing itself from the European Union.
"I am convinced that the train of change at the global level is represented by the USA and the Trump Administration," declared the PSD deputy for spotmedia.ro.
"Romania's sovereign interest is to fully and unconditionally align with this political and technological change that we need," Victor Ponta further stated.
The former social-democratic leader has never accused Russia of intervening in manipulating the presidential elections. Furthermore, he criticized Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, who publicly spoke about such a possibility.
Victor Ponta positioned himself, after the cancellation of the presidential elections, as a supporter of Călin Georgescu, the pro-Russian candidate, and condemned the annulment of the elections by the CCR.
In everything he has done, he has acted against the current leadership of the PSD, visibly attempting to create a rupture within the party.
Kremlin's Friends in Bucharest Have Become Pro-Americans
Victor Ponta participated in events related to the inauguration of Donald Trump's new term, enthusiastically welcoming his return to the White House, while also declaring himself a big fan of Elon Musk.
"Romania must support the approach of the new American administration towards resolving the conflict in Ukraine and actively participate in the reconstruction of this country," the PSD deputy further stated for spotmedia.ro.
Victor Ponta's transformation in the last two months is important to highlight because it indicates a bet made by a part of the political elite in our country on the fact that Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will come to an understanding, and this understanding will have negative effects on the European Union and NATO.
The former PSD leader, who was mentored by Adrian Năstase, is not a declared supporter of Russia's military actions, knowing that there are many reservations in society regarding Moscow, but he is trying, just as Călin Georgescu did, to project himself in front of public opinion as pro-American, pro-Trump, and pro-Elon Musk.
Neither Călin Georgescu nor Victor Ponta have been validated by representatives of the power circle around Donald Trump, indicating that until the end of the presidential elections in Romania, American officials will not position themselves in any way towards our country.
The rejection of the nonsense coming from Bucharest suggests that the dynamics between Trump and Putin are no longer the same as in the first term, the world has changed, but not necessarily in the way Victor Ponta and his supporters expected.