Although the official counting of votes is still ongoing, preliminary results indicate that Simion – for a long time tipped to be a favorite – ranks first, although he did not get 50 percent. votes necessary for victory in the first round. This means that on May 18 he will face second round With the second candidate in the classification, which will probably be the Crin Antonescu Estabise candidate or the central mayor of Bucharest Nicusor Dan.
So who is the 38-year-old, impetuous leader Union for the unity of Romanians (AUR) And how did he get closer to the presidency?
Simion studied history at the university and quickly got involved in activist activities, taking part in street protests for the unification of Romania and neighboring Moldova. Movement was perceived as nationalist and irredentistic.
In 2019, he founded the AUR party after an unsuccessful attempt to start to the European Parliament as an independent candidate. Simion, who proudly wears the bright red hats of Donald Trump, described the style of his party as “Trumpowski”. After last year's parliamentary elections, the party took second place in terms of the number of fines in the Romanian parliament.
Admirer of Donald Trump
Many AUR political positions coincide with the movement program Magician Trump, from social conservatism – the party is referred to as pro -Christian and pro -family – after stopping military assistance for Ukraine.
Support for the party increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, when AUR used anti-science moods, opposing the governmental resources to limit the spread of the virus and fuel conspiracy theories on vaccines on social media.
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In 2024, Simion was received A three -year ban on entering Ukraine For what Kyiv called “systematic anti -Ukrainian activity”. The politician denies that he was against Ukraine or pro -Russian, claiming that he is simply pro -Russian. He also received a ban on entering Moldova many times, and Chisinus accused him of threatening national security.
Simion also took Brussels to the sight, threatening to break the EU regulations, with which he disagrees. At the same time, he emphasizes that Romania should remain part of the block. Last month, Politico told him that he was rejecting the label of the extreme right.
“Simionization” of Europe
As his political heroine, Simills mentions the right -wing Italian Prime Minister Giorgia and calls for “harassment” of Europe.
“Believe me, there will also be Simionization,” Politico said in November last year, just before the annulled presidential elections in Romania, in which he finished fourth.
Within months of annulment of the election results (the far -right winner of Calin Georgescu was disqualified, the authorities accused Russia of interference in the election and ordered a new vote) popularity of Simills increased rapidly.
The candidate definitely condemned the annulment of last year's elections. He presented repeated elections as a fight for “democracy, the will of the people, the rule of law and the constitutional order” and promised that if he was elected, he appoints Georgescu to a high position.
Destructive policy
During the television debate of presidential candidates last month he appeared with a bouquet of flowers for Elena Lasconi, a candidate of the Centrolevan, who took second place in elections annulled last year, and then left the room in protest against the appeal.
This Theatrical freak Perfectly reflects the destructive policy of Simion, which began his political career with street marches and painting with the spray of nationalist slogans on roads across the country.
The result of Sunday elections is the culmination of his path from the marginal agitator to the extreme right leader. Potentially, if he reaches the Cotrocen Palace, the president's residence in Bucharest, he will become the most powerful man in Romania.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
