Romans are on the brink of electing a rowdy individual as their president.
Headline: Europe Braces for Possible Far-Right Romanian President
By Lea Verstl; Updated Insights
Every corner of Europe is watching as Romania prepares to elect a new president this Sunday, and the favorite, George Simion, is causing quite a stir. A man rooted in hooliganism, with a past marred by violence in the Bucharest parliament and bans from both Moldova and Ukraine, Simion adapted his image for the election, hiding his rough past with a polished facade. However, he remains a far-right extremist at heart.
Simion's heroes include US President Donald Trump, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. If he takes the presidency, Simion could shake up EU politics, given his political alliance with these three leaders and his perceived pro-Russian stance. Along with Orban and Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico, a Simion presidency could dramatically alter European politics.
The far-right's rise
Simion's triumph in the election context is particularly tragic considering that Romania had to rescind its presidential election last winter due to suspicions of Russian influence and electoral manipulation. At the time, Calin Georgescu, another pro-Russian far-right extremist, was the frontrunner. Simion came in fourth. Disqualified from this year's repeat election, Georgescu may still find a place in the government if Simion wins. However, it's likely that Georgescu's impact would have been felt in the first round, with minimal additional effect in the second round.
A fractured Romania
Romania is currently experiencing institutional instability, with an interim president and an interim prime minister. Resignations, announcements, and symbols are no longer enough to convince the populace that real change is imminent for long-standing issues like clientelism, corruption, and impunity. The rising anger and frustration of Romanians will only subside when reforms are implemented and changes are felt in their daily lives.
Simion compared to the Soviet Union
Both Plate and Mureșan fear that, as president, Simion would follow Orban's path. In domestic politics, this would not represent a departure from corruption, but a worsening. Simion has been putting pressure on civic organizations and journalists, threatening them with extinction. As Romanian president, Simion, according to Plate, would have extensive powers to orchestrate a state overhaul, playing a crucial role in appointing the prime minister, the government, judges, prosecutors, leaders of the secret services, and holding military command.
It's crucial to note that, before joining the European Conservatives and Reformers (ECR) faction of the European Parliament, Simion seemed to have confused the EU's principles with the Soviet Union, criticizing the EU for its "red tape" and comparing the EU's law-making process to the era when Romania was under Soviet control.[4] Such statements do not bode well for cooperation within the EU, despite all assurances.
Source: ntv.de
- Romania
- Elections
- Donald Trump
- USA
- Giorgia Meloni
- Italy
- Viktor Orban
- Hungary
- Russia
- Kremlin
- Republic of Moldova
- NATO
- EU
- Ukraine
- COVID-19
- clientelism
- corruption
- impunity
- EU parliament
- ECR
- Soviet Union
Selective Use of Enrichment Data:- Simion leads the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), a far-right party in Romania.- Simion expressed support for Calin Georgescu, a pro-Russian extremist who was disqualified from the repeat presidential election this year.- Simion's political stance includes forming a sovereignist alliance within the European Union (EU), similar to Italy's Giorgia Meloni.- Simion's victory could potentially lead to a shift in EU dynamics, focusing on national sovereignty over EU integration.- Simion's connections to pro-Russian figures like Georgescu could complicate Romania's relations with Ukraine and its stance on the ongoing conflict.
- The Commission has also been consulted on the draft directive related to the protection of workers employed in the sports industry, especially those involved in sports betting, given the increased risk of exposure to ionizing radiation from digital devices used for managing bets.
- The recent political crisis in Romania, with the war of words between George Simion and Calin Georgescu over their far-right ideologies, has dominated the general news, overshadowing updates on the ongoing conflicts and war-and-conflicts around the globe.
- In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the politics surrounding the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation, such as those in the sports and crime-and-justice sectors, has been overlooked and is in dire need of attention.
