Dominic Fritz

Today marks one year since the unlawful imprisonment of Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul. Timișoara joins the Eurocities campaign in support of democracy and the fight for European values. #MayorsForDemocracy #FreeImamoglu

Ukraine has been fighting for four years for its sovereignty, for democracy, and for Europe. Ukraine is holding Russia back and keeping the danger far from Romania’s borders. For four years, Ukrainians have been paying — also for us — the price in lives, with cities destroyed, families torn apart, children growing up under shelling, in darkness, cold, and death. Four years in which every morning could be the last. Mariupol, Bucha, Kharkiv, Kherson have become symbols of resistance, but also of unimaginable suffering. After 1945, the world said: never again. Yet Russia has deliberately and cynically attacked that very promise of “never again.” It has attacked the order built in Europe after the world wars and dictatorships — an order that defends every nation’s right to choose its own path. It has attacked the world that Romania dreamed of during the darkness of the Ceaușescu dictatorship and under the Soviet boot: a world of freedom and sovereignty. This foundation of peace is being bombed. Ukraine is fighting for the idea that borders are not moved by tanks and that nations are not the property of dictators. If Ukraine falls, we all fall.

Earlier this week, at the B40 Summit in Zagreb, I met with Acting Mayor of Istanbul @nuriaslan_tr to discuss the situation of Mayor @imamoglu_int and Istanbul’s ongoing fight for democracy. I still remember my visit to Istanbul as part of the Eurocities solidarity mission last year, where I witnessed firsthand the determination of its people and their unwavering support for Mayor İmamoğlu. Timișoara will always stand by the democratic aspirations of people everywhere.

Honored to be in Zagreb for the 5th B40 Summit – “Cities as Drivers of Sustainable Development”, alongside mayors from across Europe who face similar challenges in leading our cities through rapid change. In my five years as mayor, one lesson stands out: governing today is not only about delivering results, but about shaping the narrative around change. In an age of misinformation, polarization, and declining trust in institutions, perception becomes important. We must communicate better, have the courage to name obstacles and interests working against the common good, and build broad coalitions that give a voice to those who benefit from positive change, not only to those who shout the loudest. Thankful to Mayor @ttomasevichr and the City of Zagreb for the invitation and for hosting such a timely and meaningful conversation. Cities remain on the frontline of democracy, and how we tell the story of change will shape our future just as much as the change itself.

At 26 years old, Erfan Soltani faces the gallows today. His only crime was shouting for freedom - a cause for which the Iranian people will ultimately prevail. Arrested just last week during the protests, he was condemned in a trial that lasted only a few days. I have profound admiration for the Iranians risking their lives for the right to live freely. The regime responds with its usual tools of terror: internet blackouts, bullets, and mass arrests. Yet the resistance continues with incredible courage. On the front lines are the brave Iranian women, that the state tries hardest to silence, yet who defy the Ayatollah with relentless creativity. Timișoara knows this struggle. We know what it means when a state answers a cry for liberty with tanks. We remember that the first victim of our 1989 Revolution was a woman carrying nothing but two loaves of bread. Any power that believes fear can stop a people is mistaken. Our obligation is simple: do not look away. Just as Timișoara and Romania won their fight for freedom, so will the brave people of Iran.

Ce imens privilegiu să-mi fi putut alege iubirea pentru această țară. Mi-am depus jurământul de credință față de România, al cărei cetățean sunt de azi. Mulțumesc, România, pentru brațele tale deschise, pentru potențialul tău de inspirație, pentru energia ta debordantă. Mulțumesc, Timișoara, că îmi ești acasă.

36 years ago, the December '89 Revolution in Timișoara was the essential moment that firmly anchored Romania to the West, igniting the path toward its European destiny. Honoring our heroes means accepting the continuous responsibility to defend that legacy. Against contemporary threats, both external and internal, we must ensure that the principles of liberty, the rule of law, and democratic resilience remain a vibrant, active commitment, preventing this foundational chapter from ever becoming mere history.

In Paris with President @NicusorDanRO for a warm meeting with @Anne_Hidalgo. We spoke about stronger city voices in the EU and citizen engagement. Proud that Paris joined us by signing the Timișoara Declaration, the key outcome of the Timișoara Cities Summit, opened earlier this year by President Dan. Honored to represent Timișoara and strengthen relations between Romania and France in the city where I once studied. Recently, I was invited to offer my patronage to the Institut Palladio for its 2026 seminar cycle, becoming the first politician outside the Franco-Belgian space to do so. A new alley in Paris now carries the name Nicolae Titulescu, inaugurated by the President of Romania together with Mayor Hidalgo, a tribute to a great European. Timișoara & France are closer than ever.

România, gata, sunt unul de-ai tăi! Am trecut de proba de interviu și am primit aviz pozitiv pentru obținerea cetățeniei române. Mulțumesc, România, că m-ai primit în casa ta acum 22 ani. M-ai făcut adult, m-ai făcut european, m-ai făcut mai tenace, mai călduros, mai inventiv. Iar acum m-ai făcut român cu acte în regulă. Urmează depunerea jurământului, la proxima ocazie. Trăiască România, trăiască Europa!

Romania stands firmly on the side of Ukraine. Defeating Russia is in our own immediate interest.

Azi se fac 5 ani de când am depus jurământul ca primar al Timișoarei. Poza e din primele zile. Pe atunci semnam teancuri de hârtii, acum semnez pe laptop, cu un click. Stăteam în fiecare zi până noaptea târziu la primărie. Azi nu lucrez mai puțin, dar lucrez din mai multe locuri. Și suntem mult mai mulți în echipă care lucrăm… mult. Am intrat în Primărie cu idealismul unui outsider și dorința sinceră de schimbare. Mulți au spus chiar naivitate. Am învățat repede că schimbarea nu se face doar cu idei bune, ci cu răbdare, curaj și o echipă de oameni care nu renunță. Cinci ani mai târziu, am pus câteva riduri și din păcate și kilograme. Port cu mine nu doar lecțiile rezistenței, ci și bucuria transformării. 82% din români nu au încredere în politicieni, mi-au spus ieri la o emisiune tv. Fix de aia m-am băgat în politică, am răspuns. Cu echipa primăriei am construit școli, demolat construcții ilegale, adus tramvaie noi, deschis cinematografe, plantat mii de arbori. Sper că am plantat și niște semințe ale încrederii. 5 ani mai târziu iubesc la fel de mult acest oraș și tot ce putem face din el împreună. Vă mulțumesc.

Vocea orașelor trebuie să se audă mai bine la Bruxelles. Asta am subliniat azi în discuția mea cu comisara europeană pentru extindere, @MartaKosEU. Fie că vorbim despre fondurile disponibile, despre birocrația care ne încetinește sau despre modul în care politicile europene se resimt în viața de zi cu zi a oamenilor. E exact mesajul din declarația de la Timișoara, semnată la începutul lunii, în cadrul Cities Summit, de mai mulți primari europeni din state UE și candidate. I-am înmânat astăzi la Bruxelles comisarei Kos această declarație. Mă bucur că documentul de la Timișoara a fost semnat, în ultimele zile, și de primari ai unor mari orașe europene precum Paris sau Barcelona. România devine mai vizibilă pe scena politică europeană și mă bucur că Timișoara e parte din această muncă.

🔵 @DominicFritzTM, președintele USR, despre decizia de azi a CCR: 👉 Curtea Constituțională a respins azi legea privind tăierea pensiilor speciale ale magistraților. Va trebui să citim cu atenție motivarea. 👉 Dacă legea este respinsă pe o problemă de procedură, o refacem. 👉 Dacă legea este respinsă pe fond, adică dacă nu este constituțional să desființăm pensiile speciale, atunci USR va propune un referendum pentru modificarea Constituției. 👉 În orice caz, nu renunțăm la desființarea acestor privilegii. Avem, cu adevărat, voința să reformăm statul. De aceea, Guvernul trebuie să meargă mai departe. Pensiile speciale sunt testul de curaj și de rezistență al Guvernului. 👉 Majoritatea românilor cere să fie eliminată această nedreptate, iar noi, partidele, avem datoria să găsim o rezolvare. 👉 Credința USR este că rolul statului e să motiveze performanța prin salarii corecte, nu competiția cine se pensionează primul. 👉 Statul trebuie să funcționeze pentru toți cetățenii, nu doar pentru unii privilegiați.

Great exchange with a delegation from the Republic of Moldova, including representatives from cities such as Soroca, Edineț, Leova, Ungheni, Cahul, Bălți, Căușeni, and Strășeni, as part of a study visit organized by UNDP Moldova. This exchange builds on the momentum of the Timișoara Summit on EU Enlargement held in late September, reaffirming our city's commitment to supporting candidate countries on their European path. Timișoara stands ready to share its experience in democratic governance, urban development, and European integration.

At the @BloombergDotOrg & @LSECities European City Leadership Initiative in London, I had the privilege to exchange ideas with mayors from Madrid, Oslo, Zagreb Helsinki, and many more - alongside global voices like Norman Foster, Sadiq Khan, and Michael Bloomberg. Our shared goal: to make cities more livable, inclusive, and resilient. For Timișoara, this means reimagining public spaces in every neighborhood—because quality of life shouldn't depend on which part of the city you live in.

Last week, we hosted the first-ever Timișoara Cities Summit. Mayors and leaders from 15 countries joined forces to shape the future of Europe — from EU enlargement to green transition and fair access to development funds. We adopted the Timișoara Declaration, affirming that cities must have a stronger voice in Europe’s future. 🎥 This aftermovie captures the spirit, the dialogue, and the shared vision that defined the summit.

President @NicusorDanRO chose Timișoara for his first official visit to a Romanian city, where Romania’s European spirit shines brightest and it was one of the most engaged presidential visits our city has seen in years. He met with local entrepreneurs, visited startups, spoke with civil society leaders, opened the Cities Summit alongside mayors from 15 countries, and answered questions from a packed cinema hall of 500 people, visited a contemporary art exhibition. What stayed with us wasn’t just the agenda — it was the attitude. Curious, present, and authentic, President Dan listened before he spoke. He looked for solutions, not excuses. And he showed that respect for people is reflected both in small gestures and in the courage to face big questions. Timișoara felt the presence of a leader genuinely interested in his country — and that makes all the difference.

Together with President @NicusorDanRO , we launched the first Timișoara Cities Summit, bringing together mayors and leaders from 15 countries to confront the major challenges facing Europe’s cities. The President’s message was crystal clear: Romania’s future lies in a Europe where our country’s borders are shared with EU member states. I’m also very grateful to my fellow colleagues, Vassil Terziev (Sofia), Gergely Karácsony (Budapest), Tomislav Tomašević (Zagreb), and many others — for their vision, courage, and contributions that helped shape the summit. Together, we tackled the big questions: How can cities accelerate EU enlargement? How do we secure direct access to development funds? And how do we lead the green transition in a way that’s just and inclusive? Finally, we adopted the Timișoara Declaration, affirming that EU enlargement is a security imperative and that cities must have a stronger voice in shaping Europe. Because the future of Europe isn’t just decided in Brussels — it’s built every day in our communities.

I am delighted that the President of Romania, @NicusorDanRO, has accepted Timișoara's invitation to participate in next week's Timișoara Cities Summit. We will have mayors, ambassadors, and leaders from 15 European countries - EU members and candidate countries - here to discuss the future of the European Union and the role of cities in its enlargement. It is a great source of pride that Timișoara is becoming the place where Europe asks itself important questions about the present and the future. Thankful to our partners, @EUROCITIES and @terziev, Mayor of Sofia for their support. timisoarasummit.eu