Romanian President Nicușor Dan Returns Bear Management Bill to Parliament

President Nicușor Dan sent back to the Romanian Parliament a law that would allow the pre‑emptive killing of 859 brown bears in 2026 and set quotas for the immediate removal of 110 individuals, arguing the measure does not adequately balance human safety with species protection.

Dan said the legislation, although previously approved by Parliament and declared constitutional by the Constitutional Court, leaves open practical and legal questions. He called for a data‑driven approach that targets bears that repeatedly threaten inhabited areas and for real‑time electronic tracking of each kill.

He also urged revision of the 2026 and 2027 quotas and the creation of a unified electronic registry. Local official Tamás Sándor of Covasna County criticised the president, posting on Facebook “The president has abandoned us! He put bears before people’s lives and safety!” A petition against the law had gathered 1,781 signatures.