Former center-right Romanian prime minister Ludovic Orban to run for president

The president of Forța Dreptei party, former prime minister Ludovic Orban, announced his candidacy for this year's presidential elections on Monday, September 16, representing the political alliance formed by PMP and Forța Dreptei.

Orban heads Forța Dreptei (Right Force), a breakaway party from the center-right National Liberal Party (PNL). The former prime minister headed PNL until 2021, when he lost an internal election and left the party, forming a group with his supporters.

“I served the public interest and have been at the disposal of the citizens who have trusted me for over 30 years, often putting aside things that may have been more important to others,” Ludovic Orban declared at the Parliament Palace, cited by Digi24.

He mentioned that his entire career is one of work and effort. “The presidency is the most important position in the state, and the president is the one who sets the direction, the one who can mobilize all the nation's energies, the one who can lead Romania towards a vision of development that allows every Romanian to live much better through their own efforts, through their own merits, and through the recognition of honesty and hard work."

Nevertheless, the former PM is not credited with much support in the polls. In fact, his name does not even appear in the latest polls.

The other candidates in the race for the presidential office are:

• Marcel Ciolacu (PSD) – Prime Minister of Romania and president of the Social Democratic Party
• Nicolae Ciucă (PNL) – former Prime Minister of Romania and president of the National Liberal Party (PNL)
• Elena Lasconi (USR) – president of Save Romania Union, elected after the 2024 local elections
• Mircea Geoană (independent) – former NATO Deputy Secretary-General and former Foreign Minister
• George Simion (AUR) – president of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians
• Diana Șoșoacă (S.O.S. Romania) – president of the S.O.S. Romania party and Member of the European Parliament
• Ana Birchall (independent) – former Minister of Justice and former Minister for European Affairs
• Cristian Diaconescu (independent) – former Foreign Minister
• Cristian Terheș (Romanian National Conservative Party) – Member of the European Parliament

The main contenders expected to face off in the first round of the presidential election on November 24 are Marcel Ciolacu, Nicolae Ciucă, Elena Lasconi, Mircea Geoană, George Simion, and Diana Șoșoacă.