Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk, has condemned his predecessor for backing a far-right candidate for the Romanian presidency.
Mateusz Morawiecki, who led Poland’s socially conservative government between 2017 and 2023, appeared at a press conference to show his support for George Simion, leader of Romania’s nationalist AUR party, which has been accused of being pro-Russian.
Appearing with Simion after he formally registered as a candidate for May’s poll, Morawiecki – now leader of the ECR, a pan-European alliance of conservative parties – said he had come to Bucharest “to support George Simion and to support democracy in Romania.”
The country has been in political turmoil since late last year when presidential elections were annulled after a first round in which a little-known far-right candidate, Călin Georgescu, took first place. A court ruling ordered the vote to be cancelled and rerun amid accusations of widespread Russian interference.
Polish PM Tusk – a political adversary of Morawiecki – suggested mainstream conservatives in Poland no longer have any qualms about campaigning for figures sympathetic to Moscow and skeptical of the EU.
“Morawiecki in Bucharest supported George Simion in the presidential election in Romania,” Tusk wrote on X.
“He [Simion] is the leader of the openly pro-Russian and anti-European AUR party. Romania is a key partner in the defense of the eastern border of the EU and NATO.
“They don’t even pretend anymore.”
Appearing with Simion after he formally registered as a candidate for May’s poll, Morawiecki – now leader of the ECR, a pan-European alliance of conservative parties – said he had come to Bucharest “to support George Simion and to support democracy in Romania.”
The country has been in political turmoil since late last year when presidential elections were annulled after a first round in which a little-known far-right candidate, Călin Georgescu, took first place. A court ruling ordered the vote to be cancelled and rerun amid accusations of widespread Russian interference.
Polish PM Tusk – a political adversary of Morawiecki – suggested mainstream conservatives in Poland no longer have any qualms about campaigning for figures sympathetic to Moscow and skeptical of the EU.
“Morawiecki in Bucharest supported George Simion in the presidential election in Romania,” Tusk wrote on X.
“He [Simion] is the leader of the openly pro-Russian and anti-European AUR party. Romania is a key partner in the defense of the eastern border of the EU and NATO.
“They don’t even pretend anymore.”
Pro-EU protest in Bucharest
Meanwhile, thousands of pro-EU demonstrators took to the streets of Bucharest on Saturday, with some waving EU and Romanian flags and other shouting anti-Russian chants, the Reuters news agency reported.
The ‘Manifesto for Europe’ – a pro-EU document supported by more than 40 civil society organizations from Romania and the diaspora – was due to be read out during the rally.
One nurse told Reuters that Romania needs to resist a potential realignment towards Moscow. “Romania has to remain in Europe, not go towards Russia”, said Laura Dumitrache, 54.
Much of the focus ahead of the election rerun, to be held on May 4 and 18, has been on the far-right. Georgescu, who topped the voided vote last year, has been barred from standing again, a move which prompted protests.
Simion, 38, is under criminal investigation for inciting violence after Georgescu’s ban was announced. But his candidacy in the presidential vote was approved on Saturday, the AP news agency reported. As the head of the country’s second-largest political force, he is likely to have considerable influence in the upcoming ballot.
Another far-right figure, Diana Sosoaca, saw her bid rejected by Romania’s electoral authorities.
The ‘Manifesto for Europe’ – a pro-EU document supported by more than 40 civil society organizations from Romania and the diaspora – was due to be read out during the rally.
One nurse told Reuters that Romania needs to resist a potential realignment towards Moscow. “Romania has to remain in Europe, not go towards Russia”, said Laura Dumitrache, 54.
Much of the focus ahead of the election rerun, to be held on May 4 and 18, has been on the far-right. Georgescu, who topped the voided vote last year, has been barred from standing again, a move which prompted protests.
Simion, 38, is under criminal investigation for inciting violence after Georgescu’s ban was announced. But his candidacy in the presidential vote was approved on Saturday, the AP news agency reported. As the head of the country’s second-largest political force, he is likely to have considerable influence in the upcoming ballot.
Another far-right figure, Diana Sosoaca, saw her bid rejected by Romania’s electoral authorities.
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