On Sunday evening, despite exit-poll results showing he had suffered a severe defeat at the polls, George Simion declared himself… the clear winner of the election. However, a little later, towards night, the same pro-Russian candidate suddenly changed his mind and, after counting was done, soberly admitted his loss.
The next day, it was Călin Georgescu’s turn to congratulate Nicușor Dan, admitting what, objectively speaking, was pure reality: Nicușor Dan is the elected and legitimate president of Romania.
And both, Simion and Georgescu, made it clear, for a few tens of hours at least, that they have nothing to dispute in terms of the fairness of the crucial election.
It should be noted, however, that Moscow, unlike Simion and Georgescu, had neither the hesitations of the two nor even a mimicked will to reconcile itself with destiny. Because Moscow, through various channels – official and unofficial – did not cease in the interval to essentially say the electoral process in Romania was flawed as was the result.
And how – what a coincidence, isn’t it?! – from Monday to Tuesday, Russia insisted that the battle for control of Romania cannot be considered over with the vote given by the Romanians and on Tuesday George Simion was reactivated.
He was reactivated along the lines drawn by the Kremlin by resorting to the rhetorical chainsaw used by the Kremlin: demanding the annulment of the elections and accusing France and the Republic of Moldova of interference in the elections.
To guess what George Simion is doing now, you need to be familiar with the Russian hybrid war playbook. In order to know precisely what George Simion is doing or what he is going to do, you probably need to have your office within the walls of the Kremlin and know the drafts of the backup scenario for Romania.
This kind of resurrection of the pro-Russian candidate, after he had previously signed off on his own electoral death, has nothing in common with the Easter story of Jesus. Instead, it has a lot in common with a recurring practice of the AUR leader – aligning himself with Russia’s objectives and wishes, regardless of whether he wants to or not, regardless of whether the stake of the moment is Romania, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, the EU, NATO or the relationship with America.
George Simion is now accusing foreign interference in the electoral process organized by Bucharest, nominating Paris and Chisinau.
In November, however, when foreign interference not only existed, but was also uncovered in detail, George Simion did not see anything of this nature, although Moscow’s fingerprints were visible everywhere.
As it happens, at that time the source of the interference was Russia.
But what do I say by chance? It was no coincidence that, related to the electoral episode in November, George Simion did not see the Russians despite masses of evidence.
Because George Simion was just as blind, for years and until recently, both when it came to Russia’s interference in Ukraine and when it came to Russia’s interference in the Republic of Moldova.
Always, on the other hand, in the two cases, the “patriot” George Simion attacked the West and in particular Romania for the support offered to the two states punched by Russia. He always missed the real bully.
The fact is today that Simion’s mission did not end with his categorical defeat in the vote expressed on Sunday by his fellow citizens. But from now on the stake no longer lies in frontally attacking Romania via Cotroceni, but in attacking one’s own country from the flanks, through asymmetrical maneuvers.
It had been hard to believe from the beginning that Russia would simply accept the strategic defeat it suffered on May 18 on the Romanian “front”. One more humiliation would have been too much.
And the Kremlin did not deceive expectations this time either in George Simion’s return to the offensive, after a short tactical retreat, demonstrating their obvious involvement.
On Sunday, the Russians failed to “appease” Romania directly, through President Simion. Starting Tuesday, the Russians began showing signs that they will try to respond to disturb the country in roundabout ways, through Simion.
Romanians have to take care of themselves in the future. They did it convincingly on May 18, but in the coming period they will need to be even more determined, more incisive and more sure of themselves than then.
George Simion speaks Romanian, but acts Russian. He probably feels indebted, he probably feels pressured, he probably feels one way or the other.
It’s hard to imagine him acting on his own. There are so many “coincidences” in his civic and political activism that the simple fact of following his path cures you of the last mist of naivety.
Nicolae Rațiu: “Russia won’t give up and it won’t disappear”
