In their first televised discussion, which Euronews Romania organised, Romanian presidential candidates George Simion, the leader of the AUR party, and Nicușor Dan, the mayor of Bucharest, have presented radically different positions regarding support for Ukraine.
Although the Romanian election is seen as crucial to the nation’s future, it will also affect the EU and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe. In the face of US President Donald Trump’s wavering backing, the bloc is finding it difficult to maintain a united front for Ukraine and increase the continent’s defensive capabilities.
Simion, the hard-right leader who won 40.5% of the vote in Sunday’s first round of the rerun battle, pointed to statistics indicating that over six million Romanians are employed overseas. “On the streets of Romania, we see Indians, Pakistanis, and Bangladeshis,” he said to a crowd of supporters of the two candidates in the Polytechnic University of Romania’s Aula Magna. “EU funds should not go to Ukraine, to anyone other than European citizens, to Romanians and Romanians’ children.” Our folks depart, while those from the third world arrive.
Discussion moderators Andra Diaconescu, editor-in-chief of Euronews Romania, and Monica Mihai, political editor of Euronews, asked him how he would vote for a fresh assistance package for Ukraine if he represented Romania in the EU Council.
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