“Even if we are conservative, which is not to the liking of the establishment in Brussels, even if we believe in many of the values President Trump believes in,” Simion said, “we also believe that we need a strong, united Europe.”
The politician insisted he would “work together” with the EU’s mainstream parties if elected, with Romania’s full accession to the visa-free Schengen zone, pushing for a directly elected EU executive and boosting industrial production in the bloc at the top of his list of priorities.
But unlike Meloni, Simion has openly vowed he would push back against Brussels even if that means breaking EU rules in a move more reminiscent of the populist leaders of Hungary and Slovakia, Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico.
“I would be a liar to say we would respect EU law,” he said. “If tomorrow [there is] a new law that we didn’t vote for … or laws that are not good for Romania,” he said, “I will try to use all my powers to stop what is doing harm for my people.”
Meanwhile, Simion has pledged to suspend military aid to Ukraine, whose government has banned the hard-right leader from visiting the country over his promotion of “unionist ideology,” like neighboring Moldova.
He has also faced accusations of meeting with Russian spies, charges he has repeatedly denied. Speaking to foreign journalists on Wednesday, he branded Russian President Vladimir Putin a “war criminal.”
Still, the AUR party chief said he wants a cease-fire in Ukraine “as soon as possible” and called for a peace agreement brokered by Trump — even if that means Kyiv giving up land currently controlled by Russia.
“I cannot say … to Ukrainians give up your national territory,” he said, “but it’s hard to believe that they won’t be obliged to.”
