Romanian journalist Nicolae Melinescu comments for our radio station from Washington :

Nicolae Melinescu: “His persistence, the money and the voters’ confidence show that the projects he promised when he came to the White House in 2008 need more time, and that he is the one to put them into practice. These are strategic projects, such as infrastructure, education and health. It remains to be seen to what extent he will be able to push these projects through Congress, especially through the House of Representatives, where the money is distributed, a chamber dominated by Republicans.”

As for the foreign policy, American voters see Obama as the president who lived up to his promise to pull troops out of Iraq, who killed the most wanted terrorist in the world, Osama bin Laden, and the commander in chief who started the retreat out of Afghanistan. He had to face issues such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Arab Spring and the Iran issue, under straining relations with Beijing and Moscow. In terms of relations with the EU, political commentators expect a strengthening of political and economic relations. European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council president Herman van Rompuy were among the first to congratulate Barack Obama for his reelection, recalling the strategic role that the US has played for the EU.

The two said that economic growth and new jobs remain a priority both for the US and the EU, and that they will continue to work with the US president in order to bring up the transatlantic market to full potential. Also, the two emphasized the fact that Europe is eager to continue cooperation in foreign policy and in promoting common values.