Nationalist rhetoric gains ground in liberal stronghold Oradea amid EU funding

Oradea, the administrative centre of Bihor and a historic part of north-west Romania, has seen its Art Nouveau façades refreshed, schools renovated and a new tramway delivered thanks to abundant EU funds. Despite the city’s long-standing alignment with the National Liberal Party (PNL), nationalist narratives are gaining traction, fueled by economic concerns and scepticism toward institutions. In this context, former extreme-right presidential candidate Calin Georgescu made a public appearance at the ocskapiac market, engaging with local farmers and producers.

The event was attended by members of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), who are leveraging Georgescu’s informal campaign. Georgescu, already under judicial scrutiny for multiple offences, was placed under judicial control by a Bucharest tribunal, a move the AUR described as politically motivated.