Just a few days before the presidential elections in Romania, the leaders of the Party of European Socialists (PES) and the S&D group in the European Parliament issue a clear warning against extremism and populism.
In a joint statement, they reaffirm that they will „never” cooperate with far-right forces, regardless of the election results.
The message from PES and S&D comes in a politically sensitive context in Romania. After the withdrawal of the PSD-PNL-UDMR candidate from the presidential race, the social-democratic party has not announced its support for any of the remaining candidates. This ambiguity raises concerns among left-wing European leaders, who call for democratic and pro-European unity in the face of the rise of the far right.
Firm Position Against the Far Right
"We commit to not cooperating, not normalizing, and never forming coalitions with the far right, regardless of the results of future elections," the joint statement of PES and S&D states.
The two parties argue that the ideology and policies of the far right "are fundamentally opposed to our values, evoking some of the darkest chapters of history."
PSD Called to Defend European Values
The European Socialists express their belief that the Romanian member party, PSD, "will demonstrate its active commitment to the pro-European alternative."
PES President Stefan Löfven linked the current elections to historical memory: "We recently marked 80 years since the end of the Second World War. We must honor the memory of those who fought for freedom, peace, and democracy."
- Two PSD Leaders Support Nicușor Dan: Washing Hands Might Be the Most Toxic Option
- First PSD County Council Head Announces Support for Nicușor Dan
Löfven emphasized that democracy is "the antithesis of autocracy" and must be defended "now, as the Union faces serious threats from the far-right extremism."
Stefan Löfven sent a direct message to Romanian voters: "As Romanians go to the polls, they should remember that our Union faces serious threats from radical far-right extremism. The time to defend democratic values is now, and PSD and its supporters have always been among the defenders of democracy and European values."
Iratxe García: "We Will Not Collaborate with the Far Right"
The President of the S&D group in the European Parliament, Iratxe García, reinforced this message, emphasizing that "aligning with the far right is not an option for our political family."
She warned that the far right "wants to destroy all the achievements and progress made in recent years, under the false pretext of defending against external threats."
Iratxe García recalled that the EU was born out of the desire for integration and cooperation: "We recently celebrated 75 years since the Schuman Declaration, the founding text of the European Union. Our project speaks of growth, social justice, equality, and the rule of law. We will only collaborate with those who share these values."