Forța Dreptei (FD – Force of the Right)

EU RANK: 79 (Tier 2: High Performance)

Forța Dreptei is a liberal‑conservative party created by former prime minister Ludovic Orban and ex‑PNL members, positioning itself as a principled, pro‑market, pro‑EU right‑of‑centre alternative critical of both PSD and the current PNL leadership. It supports rule‑of‑law reforms, fiscal responsibility and Euro‑Atlantic integration, while promoting traditional values and scepticism toward rapid social‑liberal changes.

Disinformation and alternative media

FD communicates mainly via mainstream TV talk shows, online news sites and social‑media channels centred on its leadership; it does not operate a large, autonomous conspiracy‑oriented media ecosystem. Media‑monitoring analyses for 2020–2025 show that the party’s messaging focuses on anti‑PSD and anti‑PNL critiques, pandemic management and economic policy, with occasional disputes over the accuracy of statistics or claims about government decisions but no evidence of systematic false‑news campaigns. Disinformation and alternative‑media DMI risk is low.

Foreign influence and external alignments

FD is explicitly pro‑EU and pro‑NATO, supportive of sanctions on Russia and assistance to Ukraine, and seeks alignment with mainstream European centre‑right party families rather than radical‑right Eurosceptic blocs. Party‑funding and donation data for 2019–2024 indicate relatively modest resources derived from public subsidies (after parliamentary representation), membership fees and domestic private donations, without documented financing or strategic control by hostile foreign states. Foreign‑influence DMI risk is low.

Media capture, advertising and public service media

As a small opposition party without control of the national executive or many local governments, FD has limited structural leverage over public broadcasters, regulators or major commercial media groups. It criticises politicisation of TVR and concentration of media ownership around business groups linked to PSD and PNL, calling for transparent, competitive state‑advertising rules, but there is no evidence that it has itself used public advertising or appointments to influence editorial lines. Media‑capture, advertising and PSB‑control DMI risk is low.

Corruption, litigation and institutional integrity

Litigation compilations for 2019–2024 show no major corruption or abuse‑of‑office cases centred on the FD organisation; legal issues relate mainly to disputes inherited from earlier PNL periods or to defamation and administrative cases around political statements. Because the party is relatively new and has limited access to state resources, opportunities for systemic graft connected directly to FD structures appear constrained. Corruption and institutional‑integrity DMI risk is low.

Press freedom, harassment and treatment of media

FD leaders rely heavily on media exposure for opposition messaging and publicly defend press‑freedom guarantees, while sharply criticising outlets they view as aligned with PSD or current PNL leadership. Available documentation does not indicate a pattern of orchestrated harassment, SLAPP‑style lawsuits or economic pressure against journalists; confrontations typically take the form of verbal disputes on air or online. Press‑freedom and harassment DMI risk is low.

Dimension	Risk level	Short justification
Disinformation & alternative media	Low	Uses mainstream and social media without evidence of coordinated false‑news operations; disputes are mainly about interpretation of policy and statistics.
Foreign influence & external alignments	Low	Pro‑EU/NATO and pro‑Ukraine; funding based on domestic subsidies and donations with no hostile‑state links documented.
Media capture & advertising / PSB control	Low	Small opposition party lacking control over TVR or major outlets; advocates transparency rather than engaging in capture.
Corruption & institutional integrity risk	Low	No major graft cases tied to FD; limited access to state resources reduces structural corruption risk.
Press freedom & harassment of media	Low	Relies on media for visibility and has no record of systematic harassment or SLAPPs against journalists.