French MEP calls for interference in romanian elections: “I’ll do everything I can to ensure the next president is pro-European”

Valérie Hayer, a Member of the European Parliament from Emmanuel Macron’s party, made a public appeal on the television channel France Info to interfere in Romania’s upcoming elections this Sunday, urging pro-European actors to actively mobilize in order to secure the victory of a candidate aligned with Brussels.

During her appearance, Hayer emphasized the need for “all our pro-European partners on the ground to do everything possible” to ensure that Romania’s next president remains committed to the European project. The MEP, who serves as president of the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament, insisted this is a crucial issue for the political direction of both Romania and the European Union.

Hayer made it clear that her involvement would not be merely symbolic: “I will organize meetings in several countries, including France, to address the Romanian diaspora directly.” She said her goal is to “awaken the democratic consciousness of Romanian voters,” wherever they live, and persuade them to support a centrist candidate who will guarantee the continuity of the European model.

The MEP warned of the risk that the Eastern European country could follow a path similar to that of Hungary, citing Viktor Orbán as an example of a “pro-Russian and anti-rule-of-law” project. In her view, Romania’s political landscape is caught between two opposing directions: one committed to democratic values and European integration, and another aligned with authoritarian tendencies.

Hayer also raised concerns about the rise of the patriotic right in Romania, noting that it has “reached 40% in the polls.” For this reason, she made an explicit call for traditional forces—socialists, centrists, and conservatives—to close ranks and prevent what she described as a democratic setback.

“When you are a responsible politician, whether right or left, in Romania you are pro-European and pro-democracy,” she concluded. “This is an issue that goes beyond ideological nuances: it’s about what political project we want for the future of Romania… and of Europe.”