In the race for the presidency of Romania on 4 May 2025, George Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), presented a programme that stood as a declaration of war on the progressive and globalist elites.‘Planul Simion‘, the programme initially conceived for the parliamentary elections, already represented an organic project of national rebirth: patriotic, conservative, radically western in its international projection. Today, as a presidential candidate, Simion confirms and deepens that line, demonstrating consistency and a long-term strategic vision. A programme that, in structure and tone, resounds with deep consonances with that of Giorgia Meloni and Fratelli d’Italia, while maintaining a specific Romanian imprint. In a Europe where many political forces seem to oscillate between globalism and rhetorical identitarianism, Simion stands out for the coherence and concreteness of his proposals.
Patriotism and Sovereignty: The Soul of Planul Simion
At the heart of Simion’s project is an assertive patriotism: Romania as a ‘common home’ to be defended, rebuilt and relaunched. Like FdI in Italy, AUR focuses on the defence of national identity, economic and energy sovereignty, the right of peoples to decide their own destiny. This is not a closed or nostalgic patriotism, but rather a dynamic vision, proudly looking to the past to build the future.
The centrality of the ‘suveranitate’ emerges in every section: from the Sovereign Investment Fund project, intended to protect and valorise Romania’s natural resources, to the firm will to oppose the European ‘supra-stat federalist’, defending a ‘Europe of Nations’. Added to this is the defence of national ownership of strategic sectors such as energy and infrastructure, and the affirmation of the Romanian people’s inalienable right to decide their own development model.
Economics: National Capitalism and Equality of Opportunity
Simion identifies the PSD-PNL governments of recent years as the cause of the economic crisis: record deficits, explosive debt, industrial stagnation. His response is a model of national capitalism: revitalisation of local industry, priority support for Romanian SMEs, countering the relocation of profits by multinationals. The model relies on a lean but strategically present state, capable of defending the Romanian economic interest.
Like Meloni’s economic programme, Simion’s also rejects blind austerity and aims for growth: average net wages above 2,000 euro/month in four years, doubling nominal GDP by 2031, cutting the deficit below 3%. Alongside these objectives, the ‘Planul Simion’ proposes fiscal policies favourable to work and productive investment, administrative simplification and a drastic reduction in bureaucracy. The presidential economic vision confirms this approach, aiming to rebuild a solid industrial fabric and ensure widespread prosperity.
Energy Security and Industrial Strategy
Energy sovereignty is declared a strategic priority. Simion intends to extract and refine Black Sea gas at home, to complete works such as the Tarnița-Lăpușești hydroelectric power plant, to upgrade the petrochemical and nuclear industries, and to keep coal-fired power plants in operation pending the full energy transition. This approach preserves national security and industrial competitiveness.
This pragmatic – not ideological – vision of green transition is very reminiscent of Giorgia Meloni’s approach to the Green Deal: safeguard the environment yes, but without sacrificing the economy and sovereignty. Simion proposes a ‘just transition’, respectful of Romania’s social and economic reality, without yielding to external diktats. The new presidential platform reiterates the need for a balance between sustainable development and safeguarding national needs.
West, not Globalism: a fully Euro-Atlantic Romania
Contrary to accusations from liberal circles, Simion strongly claims Romania’s membership in the Euro-Atlantic world: pro-NATO, pro-EU (but on a sovereignty basis), pro-US. The link with Washington is seen as an irreplaceable pillar of national security.
Its political line is clear: unwavering adhesion to NATO and the European Union, but firm opposition to the ‘centralisation’ of decisions in Brussels and the reduction of the unanimous vote. It claims equality between member states, renegotiating dossiers such as the Green Deal and the PNRR, just as Fratelli d’Italia upholds the primacy of Italian national interests. Simion claims a multilateral foreign policy, also open to new strategic alliances in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The presidency he proposes aims to strengthen Romania’s voice in the western concert, without subalternity.
Defence of Family, Identity, Tradition
The programme is imbued with a conservative anthropological vision: support for the natural family, promotion of the birth rate, the fight against ideological indoctrination in schools. It outlines a cultural policy inspired by Christian values and European roots, in open contrast to the progressive drifts.
Like FdI, AUR also recognises the traditional family and Christian roots as the foundations of European civilisation. This approach is not retrograde, but conscious: the protection of identity is a condition for real freedom and pluralism, not an obstacle. As a presidential candidate, Simion reiterates the centrality of these principles in building a harmonious and resilient society.
Romanian Diaspora: a national priority
Another strongly felt point is the link with the diaspora. Simion wants to make it easier for Romanian emigrants to return, offering economic facilitation, reintegration policies and full cultural protection. The strengthening of Romanian language schools abroad and legal assistance to compatriots are also planned.
The appeal to expatriates as a living part of the nation echoes Meloni’s approach to Italians abroad: no community should feel forgotten. The diaspora is not only seen as an economic resource (remittances), but as an integral part of building the new Romania. Simion intends to actively involve the overseas Romanian communities in the country’s strategic choices.
Simion President for a sovereignist and western front
Planul Simion’ is ultimately the manifesto of a Romania that does not deny the West but challenges globalism. A Romania that defends its roots, fights economic enslavement and demands respect and dignity in the European common house. It is not a project of isolation, but of rebirth in full decision-making autonomy.
In the struggle for the presidency, George Simion presents himself not only as the leader of patriotic Romania, but as a link in the wider chain that – from Rome to Bucharest, from Warsaw to Madrid – fights for a Europe of nations, traditions and freedom. In this sense, the AUR project represents one of the most coherent and ambitious attempts to redefine national sovereignty within a western vision, without giving in to the isolationist temptation but strongly affirming the rights of peoples to live according to their own traditions, identities and aspirations. Simion’s candidature for the presidency thus appears as the natural continuation of a clear, determined political path that is deeply anchored in Romania’s historical and cultural reality.