Nicușor Dan holds Cotroceni press conference on annulled 2024 election and political crisis

The announcement

On Monday, 9 November, Nicușor Dan announced on Facebook that he would hold a press conference at Cotroceni Palace on Tuesday, 10 November, starting at 19:00. The event will be broadcast live on the official channels of the Presidential Administration and is open to accredited media. It will be the first press conference he has held at Cotroceni since the Luca Niculescu government was installed on 20 October. The president presented the appearance as a chance to speak directly about recent months. In his post, he wrote:

“I will speak openly about the challenges of the last few months and the priorities for the period ahead.”

What the president is expected to address

Political sources say Russia's involvement in the Romanian electoral process is expected to be one of the main themes. It is unclear whether Dan will present documents or only preliminary conclusions from the investigations. Reports also suggest the budget deficit, the economic situation and measures prepared by the government could come up. The official report on the annulment has not been finalised, because authorities are still waiting for information and answers from abroad. Dan said in September that the report on the political crisis had been delayed, and he has promised several times to present it.

The 2024 annulment and the stalled report

On 6 December 2024 the Constitutional Court annulled the presidential election after declassified documents from security institutions pointed to possible foreign interference, coordinated online influence campaigns and irregularities in financing electoral promotion. Călin Georgescu had won the first round in November 2024. Judicial investigations have since looked at campaign financing, the activity of supporter groups and possible efforts to influence voters. Asked by journalists in the week of 2 November whether the document would be published by the end of the year, the president announced the press conference.

Political backdrop

The crisis began on 5 May, when the Ilie Bolojan government was dismissed by a censure motion backed by PSD and AUR. Dan designated four prime ministerial candidates before Luca Niculescu formed a government together with PSD, installed on 20 October. Sources cited in one report say the president wants to frame the address as a state-of-the-nation review of six months of crisis, including PSD's entry into government and his own hesitations. On 9 November Dan made statements alongside Ursula von der Leyen during her visit to Bucharest, where they discussed Black Sea security and defence investment.

Analysts' view

Political analyst Cătălin Done, speaking to Adevărul, argues that the debate should start with the ability of institutions to protect democracy and answer to citizens. He says the country faces a crisis that goes beyond politics and the economy.

“I think the president needs to understand that Romania is going through a crisis that is not only political or economic.”

Done names three areas the president should clarify, including the transatlantic relationship and Romania's place in the Western security architecture, and the democratic legitimacy of the process after the 2024 annulment. He argues that general promises are no longer enough.

“Citizens no longer expect only statements about the country's general direction. They expect a plan, with objectives, responsibilities and deadlines.”

What comes next

The conference begins at 19:00 on Tuesday, 10 November, and will be carried live on the presidency's channels. Whether the annulment report is published in full or only as preliminary findings, and whether Russia's role is addressed directly, will become clear once the president speaks.