Romanian far-right party to welcome social-democratic and liberal politicians
Several social-democratic and liberal politicians will eventually join the AUR party, party leader George Simion announced on Wednesday, adding that they have not officially joined the party yet due to the potential risk of losing their current political mandates.
At a press conference, Simion announced that more than 150 mayors, deputy mayors, and local and county councillors from the PNL and PSD were expected to join AUR. Some of these politicians, including PSD MEP Tudor Ciuhodaru and Social Democratic MEP Marius Ostaficiuc, attended the press conference held in the courtyard of the Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest.
Currently, AUR only has one MEP, Cristian Terheş, who entered the EU Parliament on the PSD’s list.
“Many more will follow; we will disrupt the current majorities in local and county councils, challenging the authority of local political leaders”, Simion said.
He added that they have not officially joined the party yet due to potential legal ramifications resulting in losing their mandates.
“When the election date is set, they will sign a membership agreement”, Simion added.
AUR claims that these local elected officials are against the current negotiations for merging the elections”.
Euractiv Romania has tried to contact Tudor Ciuhodaru but has not yet received a response.
In early February, Dr Lucian Eva, the director of the Neurosurgery Hospital in Iaşi, was nominated by PSD Iaşi to be included on the party’s list for the upcoming European Parliament elections in June. He defeated Ciuhodaru.
However, it will be up to the party’s national leadership to decide whether Eva can stand.
(Cătălina Mihai, Sebastian Rotaru | Euractiv.ro)
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