Kelemen Hunor mocks Traian Băsescu after the former president’s appeal against the UDMR: “Let ‘Petrov’ come and solve the problem”

UDMR President Kelemen Hunor mocked former President Traian Băsescu on Monday, September 14, 2026, at Parliament, after Băsescu called for the Union to be kept away from political decision-making in Bucharest.

Kelemen Hunor said that Băsescu is “the best product of the communist dictatorship and the communist Securitate” and responded ironically: “Let ‘Petrov’ come and solve the problem.” The code name “Petrov” was attributed to Traian Băsescu after the High Court of Cassation and Justice established, in March 2022, that he had collaborated with the Securitate.

The UDMR leader’s reaction came after Băsescu criticized the Union during an intervention on România TV, claiming that it “played with Budapest until its peasant shoes fell apart” and that it should be taken “out of Romania’s political games.” The former president also rejected the idea of appointing Kelemen Hunor as prime minister.

At the same time, the UDMR leader said that the political deadlock can be overcome only if the PSD and PNL reach a compromise to support a government. UDMR will vote for the government formula backed by the two parties, Kelemen Hunor stated.

President Nicușor Dan announced that he would invite the parties for consultations during the course of this week.