Who is Cozmin Gușă?

Born on July 2nd, 1970, in Câmpia Turzii, Cozmin Gușă boasts a diverse academic and professional background. A physicist, geopolitician, political consultant, journalist and president of the Romanian Judo Federation, Gușă’s journey has seen him traverse various spheres of influence.

His public positions in editorial or political terms were always sovereigntist and conservative, but, at the beginning of his career he was a left-wing politician who led the Social Democratic Party (PSD) from 2001 to 2003 as Secretary General. Later in 2003, he left the party and he went on to found “Iniţiativa 2003”, a non-partisan, non-governmental organization of which he was President until 2008.

Following an agreement between his group and the Democratic Party (PD), Gușă entered the PD and served on its permanent bureau. The situation was awkward at first, because, back when he was in PSD, Gușă was accustomed to attack PD leader Traian Băsescu. Despite their differences, Băsescu selected Gușă as his campaign director for the 2004 presidential election. It was a winning bet, and, a victorious Băsescu declared that the architect of his presidential win was Gușă, who himself entered Parliament at the concurrent legislative election.

He later resigned from the PD leadership and founded the National Initiative Party (PIN), but the party failed to win any seats at the 2007 European Parliament election. This prompted Gușă to resign from the leadership, though he was soon re-elected party president. Cozmin Gușă also ran for Mayor of Bucharest in June 2008, coming in fifth place with 5.76% of the vote. In January 2009, he announced his “temporary” withdrawal from political life.

Since February 2021, Cozmin Gușă produces the most popular political radio talk show in Romania, under the name “Ce-i în Gușă, și-n capușă” on Gold FM.

“I am backed up, first of all, by the activity that I have carried out so far in Romania […] by my CV – if you analyze it, you will probably agree –  and the support from the public that will come from a series of colleagues, journalists and sovereign public intellectuals.”

What do Romanians think?

Against the backdrop of shifting voter preferences and the specter of potential contenders, Gușă’s bid signals a notable shift in the country’s political dynamics.

While Mircea Geoană, the current deputy general secretary of NATO, leads the pack in voting preferences according to a survey conducted by INSCOP, Gușă’s entry injects a fresh perspective into the electoral narrative. The survey, spanning from February 14 to March 5, revealed Geoană as the frontrunner in the first round of the presidential elections, closely followed by Marcel Ciolacu and George Simion.

However, Gușă’s decision to throw his hat into the ring has stirred significant interest and speculation. As the news of his candidacy reverberated through the political sphere, reactions began to pour in. According to reports from Ecopolitic, Gușă’s candidacy has elicited reactions from various quarters, with notable figures weighing in on the implications.

Sorin Roșca Stănescu on Realitatea Plus described Gușă’s bid as a “bombshell'” highlighting the seismic impact of his announcement. Stănescu elucidated Gușă’s positioning, noting his appeal to pro-European and pro-NATO nationalists who advocate for Romania’s independence within the European Union.

Gușă’s strategic alignment with sovereigntist and patriotic voters, distinct from the AUR (Alliance for the Union of Romanians) platform, underscores his nuanced approach to electoral politics. By articulating a vision that resonates with this demographic, Gușă seeks to carve out a distinct niche within the political spectrum.

In a revealing insight into his electoral strategy, Gușă disclosed his preferences for potential opponents in the final round of the elections. While expressing a willingness to face off against any contender, he singled out George Simion as his desired opponent. However, he noted that candidates such as Ciolacu, Geoană, and Ciucă would not pose formidable challenges, reflecting the complexity of the electoral landscape.

“The most useful for me would be a Round 2 with George Simion because, then, obviously and surely, Romania will have a sovereign president. The easiest is with any of the other candidates, who are either globalists, progressives and will have to stay in their <motherland>, because they will be very easy to beat… from Geoană, to Ciolacu, to Ciucă, to Drula, to whomever will be in the run”

Sovereigntist vs. Globalist – Who will win?

As Romania gears up for the forthcoming presidential elections, a pivotal question looms large over the political landscape: Sovereigntist vs. Globalist – who will emerge victorious? Amidst this debate, Cozmin Gușă is a compelling candidate, offering a safer choice for Romanian voters, compared to George Simion of the AUR Party, who has yet to announce his candidacy due to reported fears of limited electoral support.

Cozmin Gușă and AUR’s leader George Simion

Political analyst Cozmin Gușă’s public endorsement of George Simion and his potential candidacy sheds light on the intricate dynamics shaping the upcoming elections. While acknowledging Simion’s strengths as a political leader, Gușă underscores his willingness to embrace the risks associated with a presidential bid. In the eyes of Gușă and his supporters, including influential figures from the GOLD Think Tank, his candidacy represents a pivotal opportunity to galvanize a broad sovereigntist movement in Romania.

While Simion may possess admirable qualities for patriotic and conservative voters, Gușă’s willingness to navigate the challenges of a presidential campaign positions him as a more viable contender to rally sovereigntist forces against the globalist establishment.

For Romanian voters who resonate with the values proposed by AUR, but harbor reservations about Simion’s youth, lack of experience, and controversial demeanor, Gușă’s candidacy offers a blend of experience, intellect, and vision, resonating with a population yearning for authentic representation. He aims to represent the 60% of Romanians who identify with sovereigntist values, lamenting the current political landscape’s imbalance dominated by globalist and progressive forces.

“My candidacy, to give technical details, is launched as a politically independent one, but is supported by the GOLD Think Tank, which is known to be a group of journalists and public intellectuals,” Gușă affirmed. ” Sovereigntism is a brand of Romania, but it must be saved from a political point of view,” declared Gușă, encapsulating the essence of his campaign.

As Gușă embarks on his presidential journey, his candidacy represents a beacon of hope for those disillusioned with the status quo. With his pragmatic approach, Gușă emerges as a formidable contender poised to shape the future trajectory of Romanian politics, offering a safer and more reassuring choice for voters amidst the prevailing uncertainties of the electoral arena.

In the coming months, as campaigns intensify and debates unfold, Gușă’s presence on the political stage will undoubtedly invigorate discussions around national identity, sovereignty, and the future trajectory of Romania. As voters weigh their options and assess the candidates, Gușă’s candidacy stands as a testament to the vibrancy and dynamism of Romanian democracy, where diverse voices fight for the opportunity to lead and serve the nation.

By Ioana Constantin