The National Bureau of the Save Romania Union (USR) voted unanimously on Friday to reconfirm Dominic Fritz as party leader, a day after Romania’s High Court of Cassation and Justice (ÎCCJ) upheld a lower court ruling that found the Timișoara mayor in a conflict of interest. The decision, taken during an emergency meeting in Bucharest, underscores the party’s institutional cohesion despite the legal setback.

The vote followed the ÎCCJ’s June 18 confirmation of a May 2026 decision by the Timișoara Court of Appeal, which established that Fritz had violated conflict-of-interest rules by simultaneously serving as mayor and a member of the Timiș County Council between 2020 and 2024. The high court’s ruling, published Thursday, leaves Fritz legally barred from holding public office for three years, a sanction that does not extend to his party leadership role.

Fritz, who has led USR since November 2021, addressed party members after the vote, stating that the reconfirmation “sends a clear message: USR stands together when tested.” He framed the decision as a reaffirmation of the party’s reformist agenda, adding that the legal ruling would not deter the administration of Timișoara, where he has served as mayor since June 2020.

The conflict-of-interest case originated in a complaint filed by the National Integrity Agency (ANI) in March 2025, alleging that Fritz’s dual mandate created an institutional overlap incompatible with anti-corruption standards. The final court ruling, delivered by a five-judge panel at the ÎCCJ, rejected Fritz’s appeal and confirmed the earlier sanctions, including a fine of 10,000 lei (approximately €2,000).

USR officials emphasized that the party’s statutes do not link leadership eligibility to legal eligibility for public office, allowing Fritz to remain at the helm. Deputy leader Cătălina Drulă told reporters that the vote reflected “the will of the party’s grassroots,” while acknowledging the legal challenges ahead.

Political analysts noted that the decision could galvanize USR’s base ahead of the 2026 local and parliamentary elections, despite the leadership’s legal vulnerabilities. “Fritz’s reconfirmation signals that USR prioritizes political continuity over institutional compliance,” said political scientist Alina Mungiu-Pippidi. “It’s a high-risk strategy in a year when anti-corruption remains a decisive electoral issue.”

The party now faces the task of reconciling its reformist rhetoric with the legal realities facing its leader, as Fritz prepares to govern Timișoara under the shadow of the court’s ruling.

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