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Nicuşor Dan attends the Francophonie Summit / Romania supports Dacian Cioloş’s candidacy

Raluca Ioana Draghici

15 November 2026, 07:00

Current Affairs

Nicusor Dan / shutterstock.com

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President Nicuşor Dan begins a two-day official visit to Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, on Sunday, where he will attend the 20th Francophonie Summit. The meeting of leaders from the 53 full member states of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) is being held under the theme “Reinvesting in peace for shared prosperity and lasting stability.”

Romania’s main objective is to secure the support of member states for Dacian Cioloş’s candidacy for the position of Secretary General of La Francophonie for the 2027–2030 term. A former prime minister of Romania and former European commissioner, Cioloş is proposing a vision for the revitalisation and development of the Francophone community.

The Presidential Administration says that Cioloş’s election would strengthen Romania’s influence in the Francophone sphere, its relations with member states, and the promotion of national interests in strategic areas. The candidacy is part of Bucharest’s strategy to strengthen its international profile and become more actively involved in multilateral cooperation projects.

Romania believes that La Francophonie can become a model of cooperation adapted to the challenges of the future, including through academic and educational opportunities for young people. The decision on the OIF’s new Secretary General is expected on Monday, during the session attended by the leaders of the full member states.

Context: Dacian Cioloș’s candidacy for the leadership of the Francophonie was prepared through diplomatic efforts and announced with details about the campaign

Before the Francophonie Summit in Phnom Penh, Dacian Cioloș said that, at the end of the campaign, he would disclose the expenses incurred by the Romanian state to support the candidacy, referring to funds allocated through the Presidency of Romania and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The candidacy was officially submitted on April 15, 2026, and the four candidates were interviewed on June 30, with the election scheduled to take place at the Summit, on November 15–16, in Cambodia.

Also as part of the preparations, the president of Romania held meetings and discussions related to Cioloș’s candidacy: in New York, Nicușor Dan mentioned dialogue and cooperation within the Francophonie with Lebanon’s prime minister, Nawaf Salam, welcoming the openness of the Lebanese authorities toward the candidacy. At the same time, Prime Minister Luca Niculescu discussed Cioloș’s candidacy for the position of secretary-general of the OIF with the head of Morocco’s government, Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri.

Separately, Cioloș also presented the direction he envisions for the organization—“economic Francophonie” and “useful Francophonie”—with an emphasis on the economy, technology, and entrepreneurship, as well as priorities for young people and the advancement of women.