“There is a lot of hatred in this campaign. I received threats personally and I was told that pro-European people should be thrown out a window, ”explains Simena Trif, coordinator of Dan’s campaign in the region. “The current situation is the fault of the political authorities who have not taken the necessary measures to prevent extremism from spreading in Romania.”
David Milea, 29, says he wanted to protect “the right to speak” in the face of extremists who want to take over. “Simion is just a populist. The great dangers with him are (lose) the funds of Europe and were more transformed into the Russian part. ”
Again, the fear of a return to the previous oppression of Romania is just under the surface, even for young people. “I just want to be free to choose everything I want to do,” explains Diana Ghita, 27. “I have never experienced the time of Ceaușescu but I cannot stop thinking about how we could find ourselves in the same situation, not being able to do many things, again.”
While walkers enter the citadel and pass unification hall, their rhythm slows down to a respectful walk and they fall silent. Once outside the walls of the citadel, they stop to listen to pro-Dan speeches in front of a memorial of 18th century resistance fighters rebel against the Austro-Hungarian, looked at by three gendarmes relaxed.
As the sun sinks and breaks, a young boy with a European flag wrapped around his shoulders, walks away with his brother and father. He has a recorder in his hands and plays Ode to Joy, the official hymn of the European Union.
Dracoș Ursu, historian of the National Museum of the Union in Alba Iulia, helped organize the march. He is concerned about an “economic collapse” if Simion wins – the government is already projects a budget deficit of 7% this year, which has aroused new warning warnings for rating agencies. “We are here to save everything that can be saved,” he says.
Whoever wins the presidency on Sunday, saving democracy in tatters of Romania will be a much more difficult task.
Politices
