Băsescu mocks politicians negotiating with AUR leader Simion behind closed doors

Former Romanian President Traian Băsescu has sharply criticized politicians who publicly condemn the AUR party as extremist while engaging in secret negotiations with its leader, George Simion. Băsescu described this behavior as employing a "double language," where politicians present one face to the public, disavowing extremists, and another behind closed doors, seeking Simion's assistance.

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They tell the people they don't want to hear about extremists, but in secret, they go with their cap in hand and say: 'Mr. Simion, please, if you can help us a little, get us out of this situation.' And Simion simply mocks them.

"They tell the people they don't want to hear about extremists, but in secret, they go with their cap in hand and say: 'Mr. Simion, please, if you can help us a little, get us out of this situation.' And Simion simply mocks them," Băsescu stated during a Digi24 interview. He believes that Simion, whom he characterized as a person of "quality," uses these interactions to his advantage, often leading to embarrassing situations for the mainstream parties involved.

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When you get involved with a man of Simion's quality, you pay.

Băsescu asserted that all major political players, from the presidential office down to parliamentary party leaders, have approached Simion for help. He views this as the inevitable price for dealing with Simion, suggesting that these politicians are "humiliated" by their clandestine dealings. The former president's remarks highlight a perceived hypocrisy in Romanian politics, where public posturing contrasts with private political maneuvering.

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They are simply humiliated. And they must know that when you get involved with a man of Simion's quality, that's how you pay. Today and yesterday I found out that, in the end, all of them, from Cotroceni to the last parliamentary party leader, went with their cap in hand, with their little hat in hand, to Simion.