On Wednesday, the Romanian President Nicușor Dan announced that his country is prepared to respond similarly to the recent incident in Poland, where 19 Russian drones were intercepted in Polish airspace. He reassured the public that there is no cause for concern, noting that the alert level in Romania remains unchanged. However, in Romania, as in many EU member states, the far-right acts as a fifth column in favour of the Kremlin.
President Dan expressed Romania’s solidarity with Poland, emphasising that the Polish reaction was a justified measure. He also noted that all NATO member have shown their support to Poland.
The Romanian President highlighted that while his country did not encounter similar incidents, it has faced related challenges inadvertently. Should such a situation arise, the President stated, “We are equipped to respond appropriately; however, I encourage the public to remain calm.” He also said that following the legislation passed by Parliament in March, Romania is well-prepared, and citizens should feel secure.
However, it is essential to note that Romania, a member of the EU and NATO, is facing potential threats from Russia. The significant political polarisation, caused by the far-right parties, exacerbates this situation, making the country vulnerable to Russian hybrid, disinformation and citizen manipulation campaigns.
George Simion, the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), called for the disarmament of Romania on the same day that Russian drones and missiles were launched toward Poland. AUR is an irredentist and pro-Moscow party, curiously affiliated with Giorgia Meloni‘s European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR). Another far-right figure, Diana Șoșoacă, President of the SOS-Romania party, advocates for pacifism instead of enhancing Romania’s defence capabilities.
On the day of the Russian attack on Poland, AUR released a statement suggesting that Romania should refrain from utilising European funds for armaments, specifically regarding the low-interest loan programme known as SAFE, because interest rates would be prohibitively high.
Both AUR and SOS-Romania disseminate disinformation and attempt to undermine public morale and understanding among Romanian citizens.
