How a civic movement to save Bucharest buildings became a national political force

Countries & Cities · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Born from a local NGO fighting to preserve urban heritage, the Save Romania Union evolved into a major parliamentary party. By championing anti-corruption and transparency, this syncretic movement has navigated complex coalition governments, presidential elections, and internal leadership shifts to become a central player in modern Romanian politics.

The Save Romania Union (USR) traces its origins to the Save Bucharest Association, a non-governmental organization founded in 2006 to protect the city's historic architecture from destructive real estate development. In 2015, mathematician Nicușor Dan transformed this civic effort into the Save Bucharest Union (USB). Following a strong performance in the 2016 local elections, where it secured approximately 25% of the vote in Bucharest, the movement expanded into a national project. By December 2016, USR had entered the Romanian Parliament as the third-largest political force, campaigning on a platform of anti-corruption and institutional modernization.

The party’s identity is often described as syncretic, bringing together a diverse coalition of neoliberals, environmentalists, and social democrats who largely lacked prior political experience. This ideological breadth has led to internal factions, including an economic libertarian wing. Despite this, the party has maintained a consistent focus on transparency and justice reform. A defining moment in its history was the 'No Convicts in Public Office' campaign, which gathered over 1 million signatures to amend the Romanian Constitution and bar those with final imprisonment convictions from elected office.

USR’s trajectory has been marked by significant volatility. After merging with the Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party (PLUS) in 2021, the party experienced leadership changes and shifting coalition dynamics. In 2025, the party joined the government led by Ilie Bolojan, holding four ministerial portfolios before the cabinet was dismissed in May 2026 following a no-confidence motion. Today, under the leadership of Timișoara mayor Dominic Fritz, who was elected in June 2025, the party continues to advocate for European integration, infrastructure development, and environmental protection, while navigating the challenges of being a major opposition force in a rapidly changing political landscape.

The party's influence extends beyond domestic policy, as it maintains strong pro-European and Ukrainophilic positions, supporting the accession of Ukraine and Moldova into international organizations. While its stance on social issues like LGBT rights remains nuanced—often prioritizing anti-corruption over cultural debates—it remains the only parliamentary party to have opposed the 2018 constitutional referendum aimed at prohibiting same-sex marriage.

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