Romania is ready to increase its defense spending and meet new NATO goals, even in the face of a record budget deficit, newly elected President Nikosor Dan said in an interview with the Financial Times, BTA reports.
“We remain part of the European effort to support Ukraine… This means we will continue to provide it with assistance and participate in ensuring its security“, Dan said.
He stressed that his country was ready to reach NATO's new target of 3.5% of GDP for defense, including an additional 1.5% for infrastructure and cybersecurity - a proposal supported by the Alliance's Secretary General Mark Rutte and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. "Yes, this is something I support," Dan said, adding that the timetable for increasing spending would be agreed with the United States and other allies.
Despite this commitment, Romania remains in an excessive deficit procedure that began in 2020. In 2024, the budget deficit reached 9.3% of GDP - the highest in the European Union. Dan said it was "realistic" for the country to aim for a deficit of 7.5% this year.
"We will have to cut spending by 6 billion euros. I think we can do it... I want to participate actively in the discussions," he said, adding that he expected a new government to be formed within a month.
The president stressed that his goal was to balance the state budget and give more freedom to private initiative. "But first we need to have all four major parties in government," he said. Dan said he was seeking to appoint a prime minister with a large parliamentary majority, as the country cannot afford political instability. Interim President Ilie Bologian, a center-right senator, is seen as the frontrunner for prime minister, but the other parties will need to agree.
"We must admit that the Romanian state promised many things that it did not deliver," Dan said. He said corruption, poor governance and growing social inequality were among the main reasons for public dissatisfaction with the political elite.
Nicusor Dan, the former mayor of Bucharest, won the second round of the presidential election on Sunday with about 54 percent of the vote against Gheorghe Simion, leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians party. (AUR), which is defined by the Western media as a “Eurosceptic“ and a categorical opponent of military aid to Ukraine.