 He was part of the Grand Caucus of the University, which issued a reserved protest against the cession of Northern Transylvania.With a special issue and articles in "Însemnări Ieșene", Popa also mourned the loss of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina.Harassed by the Iron Guard, which blacklisted him for assassination, Popa managed to survive its "National Legionary State" regime, proclaimed in September 1940.