Romania faces division over democratic values and religious influence

Romanian President Nicușor Dan has warned that democracy is currently being questioned and that waves of hatred are permeating society. Speaking at an event for the National Peasants' Party Centenary, Dan highlighted the rise of populism as the opposite of political responsibility and noted that democratic values, once thought to be permanent, are under scrutiny.

Recent polling data from INSCOP Research, conducted between July 13 and 16, 2026, corroborates this social division. The survey indicates that the population is nearly split on the preferred governance model: 47.2% of respondents favor democracy despite potential political conflict, while 46.3% would accept a less democratic regime if it guaranteed greater order and stability.

This social tension is further reflected in the increasing visibility of religious influence in public and private life. Observations suggest a growing trend toward theocratic elements in Romanian society, characterized by frequent religious rituals in both official and daily activities, which some interpret as a symbolic reaction to the forced atheism of the communist era.