Article by Sergiu Alexandru – Published Friday, March 27, 2026, 2:21 p.m. / Updated Friday, March 27, 2026, 2:38 p.m.
Victor Ponta, the former prime minister of Romania, was among the Romanian spectators present at Turkey – Romania in the semi-final of the pool for WC 2026. But he was the protagonist of a curious moment.
The politician, former deputy and former president of the PSD from 2010 to 2015, was in the stands of Beşiktaş's stadium, but he let it be understood that it was difficult for him to choose which national team to support.
Victor Ponta, in Turkey – Romania with the jerseys of both national teams
Before the match, Victor Ponta posted a video on his Facebook page showing an Istanbul match scarf and the shirts of both national teams.
“Have, have, have, have. Hard, hard, hard, hard. Bu akşam cok cok cok zor (no – Tonight is very difficult)“, said Victor Ponta in the clip. And then he kissed both shirts and concluded, choosing the Romania shirti: “But, nevertheless, tonight… Bu akşam (no – Tonight)”.
Then, Ponta went to the match dressed in the Romanian national team shirt. Except that, underneath, he also had the T-shirt of Turkey, as can be seen in the photo published on Instagram.
Victor Ponta, in Turkey – Romania with the jerseys of both national teams
Victor Ponta, in 2015: “Turkey is a special friend and partner”
In 2015, when he was serving as Prime Minister, Victor Ponta met with the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and talked about the relations between the two countries.
“I want to reaffirm the fact that the relations between the two countries represent for Romania a completely and completely special partnership, a strategic partnership, a political partnership. We have coordination and consultation on the main foreign policy issues, a military partnership within NATO and an extremely important economic partnership. We are two countries that have so many common interests and nothing that separates us in this region. Turkey is a special friend and partner”Ponta said, according to Agerpres.
In 2024, the two met again at an event in Turkey.
Victor Ponta operated in Turkey
In June 2015, while he was still prime minister, Victor Ponta underwent knee surgery and chose to go to Turkey to undergo the surgery, at Medipol University Hospital in Istanbul.
