The two presidential contenders, Nicusor Dan and George Simion, faced off in their first televised debate ahead of the May 18 runoff election.Continue reading
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán spoke on the phone with Hunor Kelemen, president of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ), on Saturday afternoon about the presidential election in Romania.
“I have made it clear that Hungary does not wish to influence the Romanian presidential election in any way,” Orbán wrote. He added that the Hungarian government considers the position of the Hungarian Democratic Alliance of Romania to be decisive, and that the interests of the Hungarian community in Transylvania are the guiding principle in matters of national policy.
We are working with Romania’s current leaders to advance the life and preservation of the Hungarian community in Transylvania,”
Viktor Orbán wrote in his post.
As Hungary Today reported, Mr. Orbán gave a speech marking the handover of the renovated Benedictine Abbey of Tihany on Friday. In his speech, he recalled that during the debate between the Romanian presidential candidates, George Simion (AUR) said that now is the time for a Europe of nations, a Christian Europe, in which we will fight for our right to be European citizens. “We completely agree,” said Mr. Orbán. He emphasized that we share a historical destiny with the Romanians. He added that Hungarians would like to send a message from here, from the heart of the Carpathian Basin, from this symbolic place, to the people of Romania and their future president: we stand on the ground of unity and cooperation, and therefore we will not support any isolation or political retaliation against Romania and its leaders, he stated.
Simion thanked Orbán for his great message. “We must win the battle! Together!” wrote the Romanian politician on his X page.
Thank you for your great message, @PM_ViktorOrban!
We have a fight to win! Together!
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CMF 31250007
CPP A1B1C1D1E1 https://t.co/uUMv25gifK— George Simion (@georgesimion) May 9, 2025
Mr. Orbán’s statement came as a surprise to the Hungarian community in Romania, as political groups and historical churches in Transylvania unanimously reject the policies of the far-right Simion and the AUR he leads, Krónika Online reported. During the presidential election campaign, the RMDSZ, Hungarian Alliance of Transylvania, and the Hungarian Civic Force all took the position that Simion, who is seen as anti-Hungarian, must be prevented from becoming Romania’s next president.
RMDSZ President Hunor Kelemen posted a video message on Saturday in which he stated that Simion is not a friend of Hungarians, but rather anti-Hungarian, and he also reminded viewers that the AUR leader entered politics after he and his followers desecrated the Hungarian military cemetery in Valea Uzului (Úzvölgye).
The RMDSZ president called on Hungarians in Romania to vote for Nicușor Dan, the mayor of Bucharest, in the second round.
The Hungarian Alliance of Transylvania also encourages people to vote for independent candidate Dan. The party stated that anyone hoping that George Simion would become an ally of Hungarians in the fight to save Christian Europe is mistaken. According to Krónika Online, this statement was intended as a message to Orbán in response to his remarks on Friday.
As the Alliance pointed out, there can be no debate or consideration of the fact that Simion hates Hungarians, and while talking about Christian Europe, is himself a prime example of a false Christian in his own country. “Anyone who denies that the leader of the AUR hates Hungarians is surely unaware that Simion would like to see his good friend Dan Tanasă in the position of Minister of Culture, who has filed dozens of lawsuits against Hungarian-led local governments for using our national symbols and Hungarian inscriptions. Anyone who denies this has not seen the recording in which Simion openly states that Romania’s borders should extend from the Dniester to the Tisza,” they emphasized. “The choice is really simple: peace or hatred,” concludes the Alliance’s statement.
Via Krónika Online, Featured photo via MTI/Kiss Gábor