The spectator, the diagnosis of Simion's failure: “It was too much online.” How the British press describes the golden leader

George Simion seemed convinced that he had won the presidential armchair: relaxed, joking with journalists in a Lebanese restaurant, he was already measuring the curtains in Cotroceni, an editorial in The Viewer, one of the most prestigious British political magazines. The article shows how the confidence of the gold leader, born from the comments and supported by the algorithm, failed in contact with urban, educated, European Romania.

George Simion could be the one who opens the first chapter if a book was written about the people model in the image and likeness of Donald Trump, writes the British press.

George Simion Photo: Profimedia

British political journal “The spectator” made a report on the second round of the presidential elections in Romania, won by Nicușor Dan. In the center of attention, however, was George Simion – “the leader of the nationalist opposition in Romania”.

“In the basement of a Lebanese restaurant in the center of Bucharest, he (George Simion) holds the meeting, ready to become the next president of Romania. “These are Romanian,” he says, waving a hand above the Lebanese (mezzo) appetizers. «Like the Gulf of America … I will have an executive order to declare them Romanian»“Writes journalist Michael Murphy, in his report.

And Simion is not considered a traditional politician.

“Simion is relaxed, like a man who has already measured the curtains in Cotroceni. He wears a blue jacket with the slogan “Red is bad”, from a Polish brand of anti -communist clothing. Around him, the room bursts from journalists, assistants and a group of nationalist colleagues. “Hermanos!” (Brother!), He shouted to a group. «Grazie Mille!» (One thousand thanks!) To another. Occasionally, he returns to simple English: «Greetings, Polish Friends» (Greetings, Polish Friends)”, The golden leader from the British publication is described.

George Simion and Emmanuel Macron

The spectator analyzes the last week of the second round of the presidential elections, when Simion crossed the European capitals, “meeting with other populists and thinking of the votes of the diaspora”.

“In Paris, he He criticized live on television “tyrannical tendencies” of Emmanuel Macron. His pugilistic style made him blush even the most experienced right people. Giorgia Meloni and Marion Maréchal teased him afterwards: “You behave like Trump!” But Simion was named even worse. “There is no time in politics for political correctness,” he told his guests, as if the room had a reminder. «This is the message of the people. That makes us populists »”, Writes the British publication.

And George Simion said about Emmanuel Macron that “It has many, many soldiers. Will send them to Greenland. Will send them to Ukraine“Adding that:”Is a little Napoleon – and Napoleon was very small”.

“For Macron, the joke is not laughing. Romania divides the longest NATO border with Ukraine. The Black Sea coast is facing Russia's Naval Theater. It also houses the largest European base of NATO, and France has stayed thousands of soldiers in the country. From the point of view of Elysée, the loss of Romania in favor of an arrogant Eurosceptic is not an option“, Says journalist Michael Murphy. He stresses that the President of France has warned Elena Lasconi, the candidate reached the second round of the presidential elected from 2024, that”This is not a check in white'And that “offered support to a country clearly employed toward the EU and NATO”.

Cancellation of elections

The British publication also refers to the December presidential elections that have been canceled by the Constitutional Court of Romania.

“The moment was extremely suspicious. She coincided with the ascension of another populist, Călin Georgescu, who had comfortably won the first round“, Mentions the British journalist, who adds that Georgescu”I was forbidden to apply again because of the statements that Russia intervened in his favor through Tiktok, an accusation that remains unfounded”.

Calin Georgescu and George Simion came to vote together photo Inquam / George Călin

“Simion entered this vacuum: less radically open, more experienced in the relationship with the media and still close enough to Georgescu to inherit the supporters. He even committed to making Georgescu prime minister”, According to the quoted source.

Simion and the time spent on social networks

Michael Murphy claims that Simion “It looks more like Giorgia Meloni than with Viktor Orban: a nationalist Atlantic, if there is such a thing, lined up to a European right in Washington than in Brussels”.

“His support is the largest in the rural area, among the poor, unexcused and godly, who are very unbelieving in the elites. An easy -to -touch electorate through Tiktok …”, Show in the report,

Asked how long it is on social networks, George Simion replied: “Eight hours a day“.”In 2020, I entered the Parliament without access to the Mainstream Media – without TV shows. But I got 9% of votes using only my Facebook account“He added, claiming that:”Now Tiktok is stronger”.

And the support received on social networks made it “relax” during the campaign, he says.

“We had long days with a lot of harassment from our opponents. Before going to bed, I was opening Tiktok for half an hour or an hour and I saw all the supporting videos that the Romanians made. Made me feel better. It made me feel strong. And helped me a lot – for morals, it was the best thing you could doSimion said.

His face lights up when he hears his supporters. “Very funny, very creative people, Romanians“He says.” A comment said: Ilinca, my wife, steps my shirts because he will be president on Monday. “

He had posts of the type “damn with all the globalists!” And he suggested that the Hungarian minority in Romania could vote with him. No.

It is called Democrat, although democracy disregards it as an “illusion” and speaks with admiration about Nayib Bukele's gentle authoritarianism. Like Bukele, Simion is charismatic: warm, spiritual and, as a colleague said, “with a very high IQ.” He also argues that he has ADHD. “I am glad that I was born in 1986 before being discovered. They left me to be energetic“He said.

“His intellectual habits are the subject of discussion. A counselor says that his office is full of history books. Another suspects that he does not read at all, based on social networks and, occasionally, on chatgpt. And it is seen. “I will fight with you until the last drop of blood for your right not to agree with me,” he said, attributing this replica of Voltaire … Churchill“Michael Murphy notes.

Simion and “Romanians” Romanians “

Unlike Georgescu – a cultivated, well -read – Simion offers a more gross form of nationalism. But neither Georgescu nor Simion have much to offer to the other Romania – the Romanians in the middle class in Bucharest, who link their future to Europe, The spectator notes.

He also acknowledged the British journalist, as he did on his blog, that “does not know how to reach those people who consider themselves Europeans”.

“”We have generations educated by Netflix, which are paid by multinational companies; who see their future as European citizens first, not as Romanians first. Are from my generation and are well educated ». «It is frustrating for me that they do not understand; that they humiliate my voters; They say that (my voters no) have no teeth; that they should go to the dentist; And that they should not be allowed to vote. This is not very democratic»”, Says Simion quoted by The spectator.

He added: “They think I am the dictator. Your guy has canceled the elections. I am the dictator too?”.

A viral politician

Nicușor Dan Photo Reuters

“Simion's last opponent, Nicușor Dan, was the embodiment of that other Romania: a mathematician formed at Sorbonne looking for closer links with Europe. In their only debate, Dan was concentrated, while Simion hesitated, mocking him and later calling him “autistic“, States the British journalist. He mentions the victory of Nicușor Dan and the fact that in Bucharest flags were waved with the European Union and that”the result was celebrated as a second revolution”.

“I caught Dan at 2 o'clock in the morning“, tells the British journalist. “The decision to cancel the first elections was the right one,” said Nicușor Dan, suggesting that it was more than a farce. He did not give details, but promised transparency largely to calm Washington – where, as he noted, the support for his opponent had been quite low”, It is shown in the report.

Finally, the way George Simion “saw” the defeat in the second round of elections is also described.

“And Simion? Still post. In 48 hours, Victoria said, acknowledged the defeat, blamed foreign interferences and asked for the result of the result. Finally, it may be remembered not as a trump of Romania, but as a prototype: one of the first truly viral politicians in Eastern Europe.”, Journalist Michael Murphy concludes.

The Spectator is a British weekly magazine, being one of the oldest opinion publications in the world – it was founded in 1828.