SnapShot. Ilie Bolojan's interim presidency in online media. Trends and sentiment analysis
In February 2025, Ilie Bolojan officially took office as interim president of Romania, following the resignation of Klaus Iohannis. His name has become increasingly visible and influential in the public space since late last summer, and this analysis traces the trends and nuances of his reflection in Romanian online discussions over the past six months. The data was sourced using NewsVibe, an artificial intelligence-based media intelligence and social listening platform. The tool highlights a noticeable increase in the volume of mentions of Ilie Bolojan in the press and on social networks immediately after he took office as president.
In the online sources validated by NewsVibe, about 41,000 mentions about Ilie Bolojan can be identified in the last 6 months. The peak of visibility occurs on February 12, when he takes the role of interim president of Romania. On the same day, Bolojan signs his first decree in his new position, bringing Luminița Odobescu, an experienced diplomat and former foreign minister, back into the presidential administration. These moments generate great interest in the press and social media.
Later, on April 8, interim President Ilie Bolojan was once again at the forefront of the public agenda, addressing both domestic policy and security issues. In a statement with electoral stakes, he proposed that future debates between presidential candidates should take place at the Cotroceni Palace, underlining the idea that the presidential arena should become a place of transparency and direct confrontation of ideas. The same day, Bolojan dismissed speculation about a possible withdrawal of US troops from Romania, reaffirming his commitment to strategic partnerships and international stability.
Finally, he also benefited from high visibility on May 12 after two public interventions. On the political front, he publicly declared his support for Nicușor Dan in the presidential race, emphasizing the importance of voter turnout and civic involvement in shaping the country's future. Also on the same day, Bolojan presented an official award to handball player Cristina Neagu, in appreciation of her sporting career and the positive impact she has had on the younger generation. Both gestures were widely covered in the press.
Grafic NewsVibe: Evolution of the volume and impact of mentions about Ilie Bolojan in the last 6 months
Sentiment analysis outlines an intense communication landscape around Ilie Bolojan, characterized by a high digital presence and a polarized perception (his name being reflected in both positive and negative contexts, in similar weights). The positive sentiment is mostly associated with entities extracted from his institutional activities, such as the Ordin National Steaua României decoration of Gheorghe Hagi, but also the distinction awarded to Cristina Neagu. Among the political actors reflected predominantly positively in the context of references to Ilie Bolojan are Crin Antonescu and (to a lesser extent) Nicușor Dan - the candidates supported by the current interim president in the two presidential electoral rounds.
In contrast, among the entities discussed especially in a negative key in association with the name of Ilie Bolojan are Russia, as well as - from the domestic political landscape - PNL, Klaus Iohannis and Marcel Ciolacu.
Grafic NewsVibe. Automated tone evaluation of frequently mentioned entities in the context of online mentions of Ilie Bolojan in the last 6 months
Examining the most relevant online sources that have intensively covered the topic, we observe the predominant presence of generalist and news media, with an editorial profile oriented towards political news. The top positions are occupied by stiripesurse.ro, with two distinct instances (website and Facebook page), followed by Adevărul, PS News, Gândul and Ziare.com. They are followed by EVZ.ro, News.ro, the PS News Facebook page and the G4Media website. The Facebook pages of News Antena 3 CNN, Antena 3 and Sinteza Zileza Oficial also feature in the top. The ranking is completed by alternative profile sites such as Ecopolitic and Realitatea.net.
Grafic NewsVibe. Top relevant web sources that have covered Ilie Bolojan in the last 6 months
The general emotional atmosphere expressed by emojis is one of tension and polarization. The most frequent symbols suggest alert signals, warning reactions and a heightened focus on national identity (through the Romanian flag, but also the EU flag) and political decisions. The distribution indicates an intense digital conversation dominated by contradictory reactions and strong emotions.
Grafic NewsVibe. Top emoji used on Facebook in conversations about Ilie Bolojan in the last 6 months
*****Synthesis made with the help of a monitoring feed provided by NewsVibe Romania. The analysis, data and images presented were enhanced using Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence tools.
