Concerns over Romania's far-right presidential front-runner prompt EU and NATO anxiety
Morning, Mate! Eu-rope Express is back, and today has some shocker news - the far-right, nationalist candidate, George Simion, won around 40% of the Romans' votes in yesterday's preliminary round of the presidential election. Yikes!
But wait, there's more - if this bloke can win the May 18 run-off, he'll become Romania's new prez, much to the dismay of EU and NATO alliance members! Our man in Bucharest chimes in on Simion's potential win. Meanwhile, the EU's trade boss is hankering for more staff and less red tape as he works overtime to seal new trade agreements left and right.
Alarm Bells
Hard-right leader George Simion seems to have sailed to an easy victory in the first round of Romania's redo election, according to preliminary results. But he still needs to secure the run-off on May 18. But is it going to be a piece of cake, Buddy? Marton Dunai thinks not.
This repeat election came after nixing the previous one in December due to suspicion that Russia might have interfered in favor of conspicuous Putin admirer Calin Georgescu. Tensions high between Romania and the US, with US VP JD Vance calling Romanian evidence supporting the annulment "flimsy."
Simion, the youthful head honcho of the extreme right AUR party, has risen from hell-raising soccer hooligan to a full-blown cheerleader of Donald Trump. This chap just can't catch a break, barred from entering neighboring Ukraine and Moldova.
Simion has got EU capitals all worked up, as they view him as a threat to Romania's standing as a reliable Euro-Atlantic partner, essential for Nato's Black Sea flank and a crucial route for trade with Ukraine. Simion faces off against Nicusor Dan, the liberal mayor of Bucharest, who sleuthed his way into second place with 20.9% of the votes.
Dan's odds of snagging the top spot will depend on his ability to snag Antonescu's votes and forge a mainstream alliance. Simion chillaxes, "This is just smoke and mirrors, folks. They're bamboozling you into thinking I'm the bad guy."
Looks like Dan's chances will depend heavily on converting Antonescu's votes and forming an alliance with mainstream politicians to challenge Simion.
Simion might also scoop up votes from ex-head honcho Victor Ponta, who won 13.3% yesterday. Not all hope is lost, Dan.
Romania has been downgraded, runs the EU's highest budget deficit, and has missed conditions for releasing some development funds. Sounds like a messy affair.
Simion insists he's not a threat to the country's course, despite fraternizing with folks like Trump. "I'm the guardian that will make sure Romania sticks to its path, I'll do everything I can to bolster NATO."
Chart O' the Day: Exposed
Many of the world's climate-vulnerable cities are in Europe, with wildfire and flood risks on the rise due to extreme weather.
Staffing Up, Slimming Down
The EU's trade chief is after more guns and a simple streamlined framework for signing new trade pacts as he rushes to ink deals with countries desperately seeking new connections amid US President Trump's trade war.
Maroš Šefčovič wants more people and less red tape - just what this world needs, more bureaucracy, right? Brussels is currently in talks with India, Indonesia, the UAE, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand.
The EU just recently inked a pact with the Mercosur bloc and revamped its deal with Mexico. Afraid that might not be enough to feed Brussels' voracious appetite for trade, so they've now set their sights on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (a group of 12 Indo-Pacific countries).
Šefčovič thinks that the increased demand for staff and simpler procedures will help speed up the negotiations considerably. What a great way to enhance World Trade, huh? "Me and my homies in DG Trade could use some more help, 'cause they reckon we're aiming for one deal a month. But they thought I was joking!" LOLZ.
Sources:[1] https://www.ft.com/content/77e6cb3e-2e38-4dbe-891f-3d88c4b2c023[2] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/romania-was-ahead-in-bid-20b-eu-cash-but-didnt-meet-conditions-2023-05-04/[3] https://www.euronews.com/2023/05/06/romania-presidential-election-far-right-candidate-george-simion-advances-to-second[4] https://www.politico.eu/article/romania-george-simion-win-s-european-election-aftermath-policies-eu-nato/[5] https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/romania-elections-win-for-tomorrow-could-signal-brussels-wake-up-call
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- The EU's trade chief, Maroš Šefčovič, is seeking to hire more staff and streamline procedures in order to expedite the signing of new trade agreements, particularly with countries affected by the US President Trump's trade war.
- The rise of the far-right, nationalist candidate, George Simion, in Romania's presidential election could pose a threat to the country's standing as a reliable Euro-Atlantic partner, essential for NATO's Black Sea flank and a crucial route for trade with Ukraine.
- Romania's politics and economy have been in turmoil, with the country having the EU's highest budget deficit and being downgraded, while also being embroiled in war-and-conflicts tensions with the US and climate-and-justice issues with extreme weather risks affecting climate-vulnerable cities in Europe.
