George Simion, at the “Europe – Identity, Vision, Education” Forum / “We are increasingly transforming into a dictatorship”

AUR President George Simion claimed on Friday evening, at the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest, that Europe’s future must be decided by peoples and nations, not by European bureaucracy. The statement was made at the opening of the “Europe – Identity, Vision, Education” Forum, organized by AUR from November 13–15.

Simion presented the party’s vision for a “Europe of sovereign nations” and announced the launch of the Manifesto for a Europe of Sovereign Nations. The AUR leader criticized the European Union’s current direction and argued that European institutions must serve the member states, not treat them as obstacles.

In his speech, George Simion stated that European citizens are calling for affordable energy, secure borders, jobs, peace, and the protection of cultural identity. He also claimed that democracy and public trust are declining in Romania, reiterating allegations concerning the annulment of elections and the existence of “political prisoners.”

“We are increasingly turning into a dictatorship. In Romania, we have political prisoners locked up in prison. We have television channels that have been banned, while those that remain are only pro-government ones. And, as you know, here in Romania, we had elections annulled,” George Simion declared.

Simion also announced a protest organized by the party in front of the Palace of Parliament, scheduled for Saturday, which he said the authorities were trying to ban.

The forum brings together more than 180 speakers from over 55 countries and more than 200 foreign guests. The program includes debates on sovereignty, the future of Europe, international relations, the Republic of Moldova, administrative reform, minorities, people with disabilities, and economic and technological transformations.