Bucharest, May 4 (EFE) .- George Simion, according to the surveys the clear winner this Sunday of the first round of the controversial repetition of the presidential elections in Romania, is an admirer of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, and leader of the Ultranationalist party Aur, founded just six years ago.
The 38 -year -old politician is presented as a defender of traditional values and “true Romanians”, with a rhetoric that mixes nationalist, irredentist, religious and populist elements.
His speech, which also advocates by the way economic protectionism and unification with Moldova, has found echo especially among young, rural voters and with the lowest educational level.
The national popular leader has promised that, if he comes to power, he will suspend military aid to Ukraine, and in a rhetoric similar to that of Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, says he wants “peace” and a “truce” in the conflict unleashed by the Russian invasion.
Simion appeared in these elections as the “political heir” of Calin Georgescu, the ultra -nationalist proruso who won the first round of the elections annulled at the end of last year, thanks to a campaign in social networks supposedly financed from Russia.
The leader of Aur, born within a modest family in the east of the Balkan country, does not hide his admiration for Trump, whom he mimics not only in style, but also in his rhetoric and political strategy.
In his public appearances he uses slogans inspired by the Republican president, such as “Romania first”, and sometimes he wears a baseball cap with the motto “Trump”.
This wink seeks to strengthen its image as an anti -system leader willing to “recover” Romania for people against distant political and economic elites.
Simion, which has studied business administration at the University of Bucharest, has been a polarizing figure since its irruption in politics more than a decade ago.
Founder of the ‘Action 2012’ platform, focused on the Union of Romania and Moldova, has headed numerous demonstrations in both countries.
These ideas have placed it at the Center for Regional Diplomatic Tensions, and both in Moldova and in Ukraine they have declared ‘Non Grata’ person, accusing him of activities against his territorial integrity and sovereignty.
To the promotion of Simion also contributed their protests against the restrictions of the Covid pandemic. Aur organized mass demonstrations against compulsory vaccination, which consolidated a base of followers among those who saw these measures as an attack on individual freedoms.
Shortly after being founded in 2019, Aur managed to enter Parliament in 2020 with 9 % of the votes, while in the December 2024 elections he doubled his supports up to 18 % to now be the second force in the Chamber.
Simion has launched in the last social initiatives that have reinforced its popularity, such as the ‘medical caravan’, which offers free health care in unattended rural areas. Romania is in the tail in medical spending per person in the European Union (EU) and the situation of public health is Calamitosa.
With initiatives of this type, an image of closeness with the most vulnerable has been built, which reinforces its populist rhetoric of “protector of the people”.
At the international level, he has participated in meetings of global ultra -nationalist figures, such as the CPAC in the United States, and has strengthened his links with related European leaders, such as Giorgia Meloni, the Prime Minister of Italy.
His party is pointed out by critics for promoting ultra -nationalist narratives, his unregistered unification agenda with Moldova and his Eurosptic positions, considered harmful to Romania.
Simion ensures that it will fight so that Romania is not treated as a “second -class” partner.
The Aur leader married in 2022 at a massive wedding with a woman 11 years older than him and has a one -year -old son. EFE
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