Romanian run-off: what's at stake?
In the Romanian presidential run-off election on Sunday, the non-affiliated mayor of Bucharest, Nicușor Dan, is running as an independent candidate against George Simion from the ultra-right AUR party. Simion scored a clear victory in the first round of the election, securing 40 percent of the vote. Tensions are running high in the commentary sections.
A crossroads
Contributors emphasises the European dimension of the runoff vote:
“This election is not just about the presidency. It's about Romania's position in a world where ideologies are making a strong comeback. If we have a sovereignist president, it's very likely that Romania will become a Trojan horse within the EU - a voice that sabotages joint initiatives, blocks strategic decisions and fuels Euroscepticism in the region. Paradoxically, such a president would not strengthen Romania's sovereignty, but weaken it. Without a solid partnership with the EU, Romania risks being left alone in the grey zone - exactly where Russia wants it to be.”
Church with far-right leanings
Eight bishops from various churches of the Hungarian minority in Romania issued a joint appeal to vote against extremism on Sunday. Deutsche Welle's Romanian Service finds it worrying that its Romanian Orthodox counterpart remains silent on the issue:
“The Romanian Orthodox Church is dithering again and fails to grasp the urgency of the moment. As in the past, it remains neutral in the face of disaster. ... Back then the Church allowed itself to be taken in by the Legionary Movement [a fascist group during the interwar period] and their antisemitic and violent spirit. In recent years, high-ranking Orthodox clergy have been openly Eurosceptic and hostile vis-à-vis the 'decadent West'. The AUR party goes down well with the Orthodox elite.”
At least there's a debate
Magyar Hang looks across the border with a touch of envy:
“In certain areas of life, the situation in Romania is better than in Hungary. ... A case in point is the four-hour debate that took place between the remaining candidates in the repeat presidential election. Both candidates tirelessly presented their arguments and also their accusations against each other, answering questions and commenting on specific policy issues. ... In contrast, Hungary's prime minister has come up with a whole lexicon of excuses for why he has not participated in a debate since 2006.”