The USR Congress in Sibiu was marked by calls for unity, reform and political mobilization, supported by party leaders, including the Minister of Economy, Irineu Darău, Minister Diana Buzoianu and Minister of Defense, Radu Miruță. The common message was that the party must become a mature political force capable of winning elections and supporting deep reforms despite pressure.
In his speech, Minister Irineu Darău emphasized that, after 10 years of existence, USR is in a moment of maturity and must assume the status of a governing party, both at the local and national level.
“I think that after 10 years together, in the USR family, we know who we are and, yes, we are about reforming the state”, said the minister.
Darău drew attention to the fact that USR is in a “ongoing campaign” and that political opponents do not just want the party out of power, but its complete disappearance from the political scene. “We don’t have the power of money, we don’t have the power of unlimited resources, we don’t have and we don’t want the power of public money pipelines. However, we have the power to be the most agile, the most innovative in Romanian politics and we must continue on this path“, he said.
The minister also called for the support of his colleagues in public positions, stressing that for USR members holding a position is “a sacrifice”, not a privilege.
Diana Buzoianu: “Reform means assuming the political cost”
Diana Buzoianu spoke about the pressures and resistance of the system in the face of reforms. She relayed lines she claims to have heard over the past few months, such as: “No one touches him!” or “Do you know how many votes this man brings to the party?”to show the mechanisms of influence and intimidation in the administration.
“Making reforms does not only depend on courage, but also on assuming the political cost. A cost that you must be willing to pay. Because in Romania from 2026, if you do a trivial thing – such as applying the law – the alarms go off.” she stated.
Buzoianu listed examples such as the reorganization of Romsilva, the imposition of performance criteria at Romanian Waters and the controls on illegal constructions or illegal mining, claiming that behind every sinecure are “thousands of Romanians who suffered”.
His message was one of mobilization: “Reform is not a one-night revolution. Reform means long-term work”
Radu Miruță: “USR ministers do not have buttons and do not enter the choir”
The Minister of Defense, Radu Miruță, stated that USR ministers do not give in to pressure and do not participate in “the old mechanisms” from politics.
“We’re not like them! That’s the main concern of those who get upset when they’re compared to the USR. And they can repeat it a million times, just because they say we’re like them, doesn’t mean we are.” said Miruță, referring to the criticism from other parties.
He also spoke about the budget of 9.53 billion euros to be directed to acquisitions in the field of defense, specifying that 70% of them will be carried out on Romanian territory, and a large part of the production will be carried out in the country.
“It is our obligation not to cede these resources to the mechanisms that have kept the defense industry stagnant for 30 years,” said the minister, adding that the investments will revitalize factories and bring new technology to Romania.
Speech by USR President Dominic Fritz
Dominic Fritz sent a strong message at the USR Congress held in Sibiu, pleading for the reconstruction of the Romanian state and the rejection of populism and extremism. His speech was centered on the idea that Romania does not need “providential heroes”, but assumed reforms and functional institutions.
“Romania does not need saviors. Romania is not a victim waiting for a hero with a cape, it is not a patient who needs a providential doctor or a father. Romania needs people who know that there is no salvation without work. Without institutions without assumed reforms and without the courage to tell the truth even when it hurts”. said the USR leader.
Referring to the name of the party – Union Save Romania – Fritz explained that the stake is not “rescue” proper, but the recovery of Romania’s right to be a normal and prosperous state.
According to him, this right has been eroded for 30 years by o “the insidious and amoral politico-economic network”, and is currently threatened by populism and extremist discourse.
“And then why are we called Save Romania? Because there is something to save. Romania’s right to be normal, to be prosperous. A right that for 30 years a stealthy and amoral political-economic network has systematically eroded. A right that the populists want to bury for good, convinced that elections are won with fear and anger more easily than with hope”. he pointed out.
