Download the graphical presentation: 08.09.2026 Informat.ro – Inscop Barometer Part I
According to the 14th edition of the Informat.ro – INSCOP Research BAROMETER, conducted between September 1 and 7, 2026, a large majority of Romanians say it is more important for political parties to reach an agreement as quickly as possible on forming a fully empowered government, while more than 50% of respondents believe that extending the caretaker government period would have negative consequences for the country.
The Informat.ro – INSCOP Research BAROMETER is a monthly public opinion survey conducted by INSCOP Research on behalf of the news platform Informat.ro, in partnership with the Strategic Thinking Group think tank.
The Informat.ro – INSCOP Research BAROMETER aims to bring issues of public interest to the forefront and stimulate nationwide conversations on a wide range of topics and public policies that are essential to Romania’s present and future, starting from the views of Romanian citizens and working in partnership with leading think tanks and academic institutions. Through this initiative, we seek to contribute to strengthening democracy by using scientific and credible research tools that place citizens’ voices at the center of public debate.
Methodology: The data were collected between September 1 and 7, 2026. Research method: questionnaire-based interviews. Data collection was carried out using CATI (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing). The simple random sample consisted of 1,100 respondents and was representative of Romania’s non-institutionalized population aged 18 and over across key socio-demographic categories (gender, age and occupation). The maximum margin of error is ±2.95%, at a 95% confidence level.
Remus Ștefureac, Director of INSCOP Research:
“Romanians are sending a clear message that they want political institutions to function and uncertainty to be reduced. Compromise between political parties becomes a strong public demand when the alternative is a prolonged deadlock, indicating a preference for pragmatism over political rigidity. The public appears willing to accept the costs of negotiation and compromise, but is far less willing to accept the perceived costs of failing to reach a decision. An excessively prolonged caretaker government period is clearly perceived as a source of vulnerability rather than simply a transitional phase. In the public’s perception, lost political time is beginning to carry a cost, seriously affecting electoral support for the political parties involved in negotiations and deadlocks, which are either stagnating or losing the gains they had made at the beginning of the crisis. Moreover, the need for clarity in government transcends electoral and socio-demographic boundaries. Beyond the differences between individual groups, a common denominator emerges across the voter bases of the main political parties: a preference for a swift resolution of the political situation. This suggests that the issue is less about partisan identity and more about the functioning of the state.”
Public Opinion on Reaching an Agreement to Form a Government
63.9% of respondents believe it is more important for political parties to reach an agreement as quickly as possible on forming a fully empowered government, even if each party has to make some compromises. By contrast, 26.8% believe it is more important for political parties to avoid making major compromises, even if it takes longer to form a fully empowered government. The non-response rate is 9.3%.
Impact of Extending the Caretaker Government Period
52% of survey participants say that Romania would face negative consequences if it continued to have a caretaker government over the next few months (32.4% very negative and 19.6% somewhat negative), while 14% believe there would be positive consequences for the country (8.8% somewhat positive and 5.2% very positive). 5.9% do not know or did not answer.
Respondents aged 60 and over, those with higher education, and residents of Bucharest are considerably more likely than average to believe that extending the caretaker government period would have negative consequences.
Download the graphical presentation: 08.09.2026 Informat.ro – Inscop Barometer Part I
