Romanian government endorses pro-Russian EU dissent volumes: Simion overcomes, poses a threat against more liberal officials

Romania's Upcoming President: George Simion, the Defiant Contender

Sporting a grin that suggests he's finally ready to boast his victory, George Simion, the AUR's fearless leader, swaggers through Bucharest, encircled by his burly escorts. Despite the unofficial results showing him as the preferred choice of the Romanian people in the first round of the presidential elections, he's yet to savor the thrill of victory, due to a few obstacles still left to surmount.

George Simion, a nationalist sovranist anti-EU, has won the hearts of many Romans, having garnered an impressive 40% of the votes in the November elections, which were then annulled by the Constitutional Court due to suspected Russian interference. His competitor, Călin Georgescu, was the initial victor of those elections. However, two rivals, Scylla and Charybdis, have emerged for the nationalist leader: Nicușor Dan, the mayor of Bucharest, and Crin Antonescu of the PSD-PNL-UDMT governing coalition, both eyeing the runoff spot closely.

George Simion appeared confident last night, asserting that the Romanian people had spoken loud and clear in his favor, despite the alleged manipulations and obstacles they encountered. Interestingly, he has promised to bring the enigmatic Georgescu back into the limelight should he secure the presidency. "In a democracy, one lets the people decide," Simion stated during his conversation with the Financial Times. "Therefore, as president, I can change the members of the Constitutional Court, the members of the secret services, to ensure fair elections and act as a mediator to find the majority in parliament. That's how we can think of having him as prime minister."

While Simion is mapping out his vision for a Romania in his image, the race for second place is just beginning to heat up. Although it's too early to predict the official results, both contenders, Dan and Antonescu, seem poised to challenge the AUR leader in the forthcoming round. The outcome of the runoff will largely depend on the votes of the Romanian diaspora, particularly those residing in Italy, who cast their votes in droves for their favorite candidate, adding nearly a million votes in total, with Simion leading the polls with 63% of the diaspora's vote.

As the world watches Romania’s elections unfold, it remains to be seen whether Simion will continue his rise to power or face defeat. If elected, his presidency may mark a significant shift in Romania's relationship with its EU allies and neighboring states.

Matteo Salvini, the charismatic Italian politician, was among the first to offer his congratulations. "In Romania, the people have finally voted, freely, with head and heart," he tweeted. "To the delight of the ‘gentlemen’ of Brussels and their dirty tricks. Well done, George Simion."

The election day, however, also bore the dark specter of coordinated cyberattacks, with the websites of the Ministry of the Interior and Justice and the candidate Antonescu being temporarily compromised due to a DDoS attack. Despite these disturbing developments, the Romanian people continue to exercise their democratic right to vote in unprecedented numbers, with a turnout of 53%.

George Simion, a former hooligan, promises to be a game-changer for Romania. He is the product of a nation's desire for a fresh start, a fierce independent spirit who aims to break away from the shackles of the European Union and usher Romania into a new era of nationalism. Born on September 21, 1986, in Focșani, he co-founded the Alliance for the Union of Romanians in 2019 and was subsequently elected to Romania's Chamber of Deputies in 2020. His political views include a pro-Trump and Meloni alignment, suspected ties to Russia, and an ambiguous stance towards the EU. He serves as vice-president of the European Conservatives and Reformists Party. Despite his anti-establishment rhetoric, Simion's exact EU policy remains unclear, and analysts have raised concerns that his presidency could strain Romania’s role in the bloc, particularly regarding rule-of-law reforms.

With an impressive 40% of the votes in the November elections, George Simion, the leader of the AUR party, mobilized a significant portion of the Romanian electorate.
In the upcoming presidential runoff, George Simion will face competition from fellow nationalist contenders Nicușor Dan and Crin Antonescu, both striving for the second spot.
Despite suspected Russian interference, George Simion has vowed to bring his competitor, Călin Georgescu, back into the political limelight if he becomes president.
Matteo Salvini, the Italian politician, has already extended his congratulations to George Simion, praising the democratic spirit of the Romanian people.
The presidential election in Romania witnessed cyberattacks on the Ministry of Interior and Justice and candidate Antonescu's website, raising concerns over the integrity of the voting process.
If elected, George Simion's presidency could mark a substantial shift in Romania's relationship with the European Union and neighboring states, given his pro-Trump and Meloni alignment, suspected ties to Russia, and ambiguous stance towards the EU.