USR is choosing its new collective leadership on Saturday in Timișoara, at the first congress organized after the party left the government. Approximately 600 delegates will vote for the 24 seats in the National Bureau, contested by three teams led by Diana Buzoianu, Radu Miruță, and Lucian Stanciu-Viziteu.
The congress started at 11:00 AM at the Regional Business Center in Timișoara. The position of USR president is not at stake, Dominic Fritz having a mandate until 2029.
The stakes of the vote are significant: the new composition of the National Bureau will determine the balance of power between factions within the party and will influence USR's political decisions and strategy for the coming years.
The Three Camps
The first team, “USR Balance”, is led by former Environment Minister Diana Buzoianu and is considered close to Dominic Fritz.
The list includes former ministers Oana Țoiu and Irineu Darău, MEP Vlad Voiculescu, parliamentary group leaders Diana Stoica and Sorin Șipoș, as well as Ruben Lațcău, the deputy mayor of Timișoara.
The second team, “USR Open”, is led by former Defense Minister Radu Miruță. This faction includes several veteran party leaders, among them Ionuț Moșteanu, Dan Barna, Stelian Ion, Cristian Seidler, and Radu Mihaiu.
According to HotNews, the main competition is between these two groups.
Miruță, however, claims that the separate lists do not reflect a split in the party. He advocates for a more open internal voting system that would allow members to directly choose the individuals they consider suitable for leadership.
The third team, “USR Strength from the Branches”, is led by the mayor of Bacău, Lucian Stanciu-Viziteu. Among others, Clotilde Armand and Senator Sebastian Cernic are running alongside him.
Viziteu calls for a change in the way USR is led and for greater influence of local organizations on party decisions.
“We are not running against anyone. We are running for a change of direction,” he told HotNews.
In an interview with the publication, Viziteu stated that USR must be rebuilt starting from the branches and that even leadership positions should be subject to member evaluation.
What’s Next for USR
The three teams have submitted lists of 29 candidates each. The 24 seats in the National Bureau will be distributed proportionally based on the votes received, allowing multiple factions to have representatives in the leadership.
The National Bureau is the body that leads the party between congresses and makes current decisions. The USR president is also a member by right.
The congress takes place shortly after USR entered the opposition, following the installation of the government led by Luca Niculescu.
Beyond the internal competition, the party must establish its strategy for the 2028 elections.
Dominic Fritz has already spoken about the possibility of building a reformist pole alongside PNL and other political and civic forces. At the USR Timiș organization conference held in October, the party leader presented this option as an electoral opportunity for 2028, according to Agerpres.