President Nicusor Dan said on Saturday that democracy is now 'being called into question' and warned that 'waves of hatred' are sweeping through society 'at every opportunity' with populism unfortunately on the rise in Romania.

The head of state attended an event on Saturday marking the Centenary of the National Peasant Party.

'This is not just a simple anniversary, because these 100 years represent, in fact, much of the national consciousness and democratic consciousness of this people. The National Peasant Party was, above all, a promoter of values, a promoter of morality, a promoter of responsibility, a promoter of loyalty to the Romanian state and a promoter of dignity in political life. Its history began before these 100 years, with the struggle for Transylvania, and it made an important contribution to the Union in 1918, followed by the period of the party after the merger, with its leaders Maniu and Mihalache, with the reforms they managed to introduce into society and, above all, once again, through the struggle for values, including democratic principles and opposition to any form of dictatorship,' Nicusor Dan said.

He pointed out that during the communist repression, thousands of party members were arrested, persecuted and deported, but they preserved their values, 'which means that it was not simply a party based on the interests of a social group, but a party founded on values.'

'The post-communist period followed, when Romania once again needed reconstruction and, for that reconstruction, it needed guiding principles, looking back, it seems that the struggle was lost at the time, however those very values they promoted in a seemingly lost struggle are what define the aspirations of our society today and what have shaped our society's achievements throughout this period, including its firm Euro-Atlantic orientation,' Nicusor Dan underscored.

The President said it was important to reaffirm democracy because today is being called into question.

'Many of us believed that, once we had achieved it, we would have it for ever and we can see that it is being called into question today. Moreover, if we look at opinion polls asking Romanians about this, we can see that it is far from certain that all Romanian citizens see their future as being based on a democratic society,' the head of state added.

According to the President, the PNT was and remains a Christian Democratic party.

'When we see the waves of hatred sweeping through our society at every opportunity, we see how much we need those Christian values of love for one's neighbor, or at least respect for one's neighbor, while, of course, preserving the secular nature of the state,' the President pointed out.

Nicusor Dan also spoke about the rise of populism in Romania.

'We also talk about responsibility, which is precisely the opposite of populism, and unfortunately, we are seeing a rise in populism in Romania. It is a struggle that each of us must engage in to explain to people what responsibility means and what alternatives based on reality mean, rather than various fantasies,' Nicusor Dan said.

The head of state also mentioned 'the loyalty to the Romanian state,' adding that 'pessimism and distrust seem to dominate many parts of society.'

The President mentioned that, a few days earlier, he promulgated the law declaring 2026 the Centenary Year of the National Peasant Party. 'I welcome the parliamentary initiative. I promulgated the law a few days ago and, as of today, the law marking the centenary of the National Peasant Party has entered into force. Romanian society values this century and more of history,' Nicusor Dan said. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Alina Novaceanu; EN - writing by: Rodica State)