Romania Campaigns to Repair Battered Profile in Brussels

Since the jailing of the former leader of the ruling Social Democrats, PSD, and de facto chief of government, Liviu Dragnea, for corruption on May 27, the government in Romania led by Viorica Dancila has been trying to rebrand itself and shed the damaging heritage that Dragnea left behind.

Immediately after Dragnea was arrested, Dancila started a campaign to repair damaged relations in Brussels with EU partners.

She flew to the European Commission on June 4 and met the President of the Commission, Jean Claude Juncker and his vice-president, Frans Timmermans, both of whom have criticised the apparent manoeuvres of the PSD to subordinate the judicial system in Romania to political control.

Dancila assured EU leaders that she will put aside any further attempts to change the laws on justice and shift the focus of her government towards development, health and educational issues.

However, political analyst Radu Magdin told BIRN that regaining the trust of foreign partners and filling the power void left by Dragnea will not be an an easy task.

"Dragnea had the ability to lead the PSD easily, by a combination of power, finance and personality. Now, many former rivals are trying to rebuild their places in the upper levels of the party," he said.

Magdin stressed that the coming period will be a test for Dancila to show good faith and convince Brussels of a changed attitude.

"The PSD has to communicate openly and honestly and abstain from new steps in the judicial field," he added.

To look more credible in the eyes of Brussels, the PM has dismissed all of Dragnea's henchmen at the top of the party, but also his Israeli political consultants.

Dancila brought new faces into her staff on Friday, including Anton Pisaroglu...