Article by Daniel Grigore – published on Thursday, May 29, 2025, 08:39 / Updated Thursday, May 29, 2025 08:57
Former chess player Garry Kasparov, 62, Russian opponent of the Kremlin regime, signed an editorial in which he analyzes the choice of the new president of Romania, Nicușor Dan. Established in the United States, Kasparov writes: “Americans who care about freedom can learn a lesson on how to win from a surprising place: Romania.”
The editorial written by Kasparov on the substance platform, part of the newsletter “The Next Move” (“Next move”, as in chess), is titled “The perfect pro-democracy candidate …”, a member expression suggests that something would not exist in reality, so that then to contradict the statement, presenting such an example.
“Romania may not be the place where someone in the United States is looking for a lesson in democracy, but it is actually the latest open society that has registered an victory for liberalism and freedom.
On Monday, Nicușor Dan took over the mandate of president in the country of Eastern Europe after a close battle with George Simion, a Eurosceptic and ultranationalist popist. Simion has exploited Revanced ghosts, the hatred of ethnic minorities, anti-vaccine conspiracy theories and a deep admiration for Donald Trump. Classic for the far European right ”, it is shown in the introduction of the material.
From the US, Garry Kasparov uses Nicușor Dan's victory to learn Americans “a lesson in democracy”
Kasparov continues: “But Dan, the independent mayor of Bucharest, did not carry an effective campaign only against his radical opponent. He also fought with the traditional political system represented by the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the National Liberal Party (PNL).
In 2020, Dan made his hand by applying – and winning – against the PSD mayor of the Capital. Later he built an anti-corruption fighter name that acts in the guts of the Romanian political beast. This approach has given fruit when Dan could mobilize both dedicated and skeptical liberals toward the system”.
The Russian master writes that “I recently returned, after the visit from Romania, in a Native America and their allies are at knives regarding the direction to be followed after last year's electoral defeat.”
Garry Kasparov: “Lesson for anyone who wants to try to break Trump and his accomplices”
But what is, more precisely, the teaching invoked by Kasparov?
The former great chess player explains: “The Romanian lesson for the pro-democracy forces here, in the United States, is that Anyone wants to try to break down Trump and his accomplices should not be afraid to break old status quo (No – to try a different approach).
As is the case with Donald Trump in America, It is not that the authoritarian candidate of Romania (no – Simion) was particularly loved, but rather that his usual opposition (no – classic parties) were generally disabled. This is why an outsider (no – about Nicușor Dan) to defeat Simion and his toxic platform. “
The conclusion of Kasparov?
“Americans have a long democratic tradition, but for a country like Romania, the fight – and by that I want to say a true, violent struggle – for democracy is still in the rear -view mirror.
Nicușor Dan was 20 years old in 1989, when the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu unleashed his criminal security on citizens. This triggered a short, but bloody fight, which ended with the guts of the communist leader and his wife scattered on the wall of a military unit.
For many, these are the political memories that formed them. This means that freedom is a great responsibility for Romanian voters. The alternative is not just a theory. We must respect the seriousness with which they pay for their democratic tasks.
Following the victory of Nicușor Dan, the Americans – and the people free everywhere – should take an example from the Romanian experience and understand that Supporting democracy and opposition to the system can go hand in hand”.
