Alison Mutler tells Thomas Porteus that Romania’s annulled 2024 presidential election exposed deep institutional distrust, but the rerun ultimately strengthened democracy with a clear and fair outcome. He warns, however, that far-right populists like George Simeon continue gaining traction by exploiting fears around migration, EU influence, and cultural identity—even though economic realities show Romania needs foreign workers and benefits from EU membership. #IranIsraelConflict #MiddleEastCrisi