<![CDATA[Romania’s integration into the European Union has faced growing challenges from populist and Eurosceptic groups that frame EU membership as a threat to sovereignty, economic security, and national identity. This study examined President Klaus Werner Iohannis’s political communication in defending Romania’s EU membership and formulated an integrative attribution-based communication model. Using a constructivist paradigm, the research applied a qualitative case-study method and a transdisciplinary approach combining political communication, political science, international relations, and media studies. Data were analyzed using Kelley’s covariation attribution theory, van Dijk’s discourse structure analysis, concepts of populism, and EU values. The findings showed that Iohannis consistently constructed a pro-EU and Euro-Atlantic narrative by emphasizing democracy, human rights, security, prosperity, and institutional cooperation. An analysis of 45 Twitter posts from July 2021 to January 2022 indicated that 40% focused on EU cooperation, 42% addressed bilateral, regional, and multilateral relations aligned with EU policies, 13% focused on the United States, and 4% concerned NATO. His communication reflected low consensus, high consistency, and low distinctiveness, indicating strong internal attribution. The study concluded that Strategic Political Communication Attribution could help explain how political leaders counter populist narratives while sustaining international integration agendas and reinforcing public support for Romania’s long-term European political orientation and stability.]]>
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