Institute of Politics

Romania and the broader Eastern European region stand at a critical crossroads, grappling with rising regional security challenges, including Russian interference, and balancing competing pressures from the European Union and the United States. Romania, in particular, faces a pivotal moment. In a historic decision, Romania’s Constitutional Court recently annulled the December presidential elections due to evidence of foreign interference favoring candidate Călin Georgescu, who has since been barred from running again. Joining the International Policy Program to explore the stakes of Romania’s presidential elections, the regional security and governance challenges it faces, and how Romania and Eastern Europe are grappling with an evolving transatlantic relationship amid shifting geopolitical pressures is Simina Tulbure. Simina Tulbure is the first woman elected to represent the Romanian diaspora in Parliament and currently the Vice President of the Renew the European Project of Romania party. As a Member of Parliament, Tulbure has been instrumental in advancing Romania’s bid for membership in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and has led legislative initiatives to combat human trafficking. She has also been a strong advocate for the rights and interests of Romanians living abroad. Before her election to Parliament, Tulbure served at the European Parliament and the European Investment Bank, bringing extensive international experience to her political career. The event will be in-person in the IOP Living Room, with MP Simina Tulbure joining us over Zoom, on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at 12:30-1:30 PM CT. The event will be for students only and off-the-record. Moderated by Sanjay Srivatsan (AB '25) and Isabel Yamada (AB '27). If you have any questions about accessibility, please contact iopevents@uchicago.edu. Friday, May 16, 2025 12:00 p.m. CST Institute of Politics