Several analysts have indicated that the potential election of the far-right candidate George Simion as the next President of Romania could significantly impact both domestic and international landscapes. The Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) leader, an irredentist political party and a member of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), has articulated his vision for the Romanian middle class in the event of his election.
In a recent interview with Digi24, he emphasised the necessity for reforms to prevent economic instability, suggesting that this may entail dismissing approximately 500,000 public sector employees. Simion noted that at the beginning of 2020, the number of employees within the state administrative apparatus was around 800,000, which has now risen to 1,300,000. He attributed the expansion to affiliations with political parties and proposed a gradual reduction to 800,000 public employees over the next five years.
In contrast, NicuÈ™or Dan, an independent and liberal presidential candidate, contested the feasibility of such a reduction. He pointed out the vital contributions of specific sectors, including education, healthcare, and law enforcement. “There are 450,000 civil servants within the administrative apparatus. This is not a realistic proposition,” NicuÈ™or Dan remarked to journalists.
