Instead, the presidential candidates have focused on personal attacks, scandals and mud-slinging. Simion, for example, has faced accusations of meeting with Russian spies —something he’s denied — while Ciolacu is under fire for his expensive luxury plane trips.
On paper, all the presidential candidates are pro-EU, pro-NATO and back Ukraine over Russia, following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Kyiv.
Still, Simion has vowed to suspend military aid to Ukraine if elected, and back a peace deal brokered by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, even if that means Kyiv making territorial concessions.
Other presidential candidates have also conceded that Ukraine cannot obtain peace without giving up some land to Russia.
Whether or not Simion makes it into the second round, his AUR party is on track to do well in the Dec. 1 parliamentary elections — which will make it difficult for any coalition to exclude it.
While the hard-right leader has signaled his openness to working with other parties, Ciolacu’s Social Democrats will struggle to enter government with a party they have repeatedly branded as extremist without losing credibility.
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Publish date : 2024-11-21 19:32:00
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The post How to watch the Romanian election like a pro – POLITICO first appeared on Love Europe.
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Author : love-europe
Publish date : 2024-11-22 03:59:27
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