Meloni 2.0
George Simion, the leader of Romania’s far-right AUR party, has openly looked to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as a political inspiration. He has even advocated for the “Melonization” of Europe — a push for the continent to embrace a similar brand of right-wing nationalism.
“Mark my words — there will be a Simionization too,” he told POLITICO last November, just ahead of Romania’s annulled presidential election, where he ended up in fourth place.
Since then, Simion’s political stature has rapidly grown. The original election — won by surprise far-right candidate Călin Georgescu — was thrown out by Romania’s constitutional court following allegations of Russian meddling. With the results nullified and a revote ordered, Simion has positioned himself firmly at the center of the political drama.
He has strongly condemned the decision to cancel the vote, recasting the upcoming election as a struggle to defend “democracy, the will of the people, the rule of law, and constitutional order.” He has also promised to give Georgescu a prominent position in his administration if elected.
In a recent televised presidential debate, Simion brought a bouquet of flowers for Elena Lasconi — the center-left runner-up from the annulled election — only to make a dramatic exit in protest of the vote being overturned.
This bold gesture reflects Simion’s flair for symbolic protest and confrontational politics. He first entered the political scene as a nationalist activist, organizing street demonstrations and covertly spray-painting slogans proclaiming Romanian identity across the nation.
Sunday’s election marks the peak of Simion’s political journey — from activist outsider to dominant voice of Romania’s far-right. If he wins, he could soon occupy the Cotroceni Palace and wield considerable influence as the country’s next president.
Reporting by Carmen Paun contributed to this article.
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