Nicu Ștefănuță, the Vice President of the European Parliament, emphasized the alarming rise of far-right politics across Europe in light of the Alternative for Germany’s (AfD) recent electoral success in Saxony-Anhalt. Following the elections, where AfD garnered 44.5% of the votes, Ștefănuță made his remarks in a Facebook post on Sunday night, drawing parallels between the German political landscape and Romania.
He stated, “The wave of the far-right is very real throughout Europe,” reflecting on how government cuts have contributed to this rise. He urged, “Repeat this with Romania in mind,” criticizing decisions that adversely affect the most vulnerable populations and promote discontent. Ștefănuță pointed out that the ruling conservatives led by Friedrich Merz saw their support plummet from 37.1% in 2021 to just 18.5% in the recent elections.
“The Nightmare is Real”
Addressing claims that the Romanian political party AUR might be overestimated in polls, Ștefănuță dismissed such speculations, asserting that public sentiment is aligning with these parties. He questioned how many indicators are needed to recognize that certain political leaders are benefiting from the ongoing political crisis in Romania.
He remarked, “People do not want to hear negative talks about extremists or theory-based discussions about democracy. Few understand what that truly means. The extremists play intelligently and attract talent, albeit for self-serving reasons. They have come prepared, with a complete plan, including a candidate for Minister-President of the land,” referring to the strategic positioning of AfD in Saxony-Anhalt.
