Trump dreamt of a global far right. Instead, he's driving Europe to the left
Historically, the eastern corners of Europe are not where we expect democracy to be staunchly defended. But this weekend, there was a dramatic finale to a chaotic six months of Romanian politics, with a centre-left candidate winning the two-round election battle.
Last November, the highest court in Romania annulled the results of the first round of voting in the 2024 presidential election after allegations came to light of Russian interference to support a pro-Moscow candidate. When the first round of voting was run again earlier this month, another right-wing provocateur, George Simion, took the lead, and many believed Romania was reflecting gains by far-right parties in Germany and Italy and headed further to the right.
And yet, in this past weekend's final round, Romanians chose Nicusor Dan, the centre-left mayor of Bucharest, who has made a name for himself battling corruption in the capital city.
Compared with Simion, who modelled himself after Hungary's authoritarian leader, Viktor Orban, and called himself a 'natural ally' of Donald Trump (he attended Trump's inauguration alongside Orban), Dan became the rallying point for a Romania that looks west to democratic allies across Europe.
Where Simion echoed other right-wing autocrats, targeting minority groups under the banner of upholding 'family values', Dan attracted votes from the young and from Romanians living abroad who saw the choice in stark contrast. After Simion's initial results, voters coalesced around Dan, either shifting from other pro-democracy candidates or jumping in after sitting out the first round.
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Across Europe, far-right parties are on the rise – Germany's AfD garnered 20.8 per cent of the vote in the February election, while similar anti-immigrant, anti-EU parties continue to make gains in the UK, Italy, and the Netherlands. It is worth noting that Simion garnered huge support among Romanian voters living in all of those countries in the first round, but fell behind in the United States, where Romanians could see firsthand what a turn back towards a corrupt autocracy looks like.
Instead, Romanian voters rejected a rightward march, aligning with countries like Australia and Canada in bolstering democracy in the face of threats inside and out of the West.
Romanians have spent decades losing out, suffering the hangover of corruption and economic decline since the fall of communism in 1989. Like many former communist regimes, Romania's dictatorship maintained economic stability by suppressing minorities and denying basic rights, which sent millions of Romanians abroad to find work. About 20 per cent of those who remain live in poverty. Against this backdrop and the cost-of-living crisis being felt across the Western world, Romanians were looking for an alternative.
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7NEWS
3 hours ago
- 7NEWS
A Ukrainian firefighter rushed to the scene of a Russian drone attack. He found his wife, daughter and grandson dead
When the chief of the local fire department was called to a scene of a Russian strike in the central Ukrainian city of Pryluky on Thursday, he and his brigade found five people were killed and nine injured after a drone hit a residential building. Among the dead: the firefighter's wife, his daughter and his baby grandson. 'Three generations… there are no words that can ease this pain,' the Ukrainian National Police said in a statement on Thursday announcing the death of Daryna Shygyda, the firefighter's daughter, who was a serving police officer. 'She was strong, bright and sincere. She was loyal to her oath, fair and had a deep sense of duty — this is how her colleagues and everyone who knew her will remember her,' the police said in a statement, adding that Shygyda joined the force in 2020, when she was 22 years old. 'Becoming a police officer was her dream and vocation. Her firefighter dad taught her to help people since she was a child. And her husband, who is also a patrol officer, always supported and helped in the service. Her son was just one year old. His name was not released, and a photo of the baby shared on social media shows him facing away from the camera, held tightly by his mother and wrapped in a jacket with a wooly winter hat. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the boy was the 632nd child killed by Russia since the start of Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Zelenskyy said on Thursday that Russia launched 103 drones and one ballistic missile against the country overnight, targeting multiple regions. At least eight people were killed in the attacks. Speaking about the Shahed drone attack on Pryluky that killed the firefighter's family, Zelenskyy called on Ukraine's western allies to put extra pressure on Moscow. 'This is yet another massive strike by terrorists — Russian terrorists who kill our people every night,' Zelenskyy said on Telegram. 'This is yet another reason to impose maximum sanctions and exert pressure together. Strength matters, and only strength can end this war,' he said, adding that Kyiv 'expect action from the US, Europe and everyone in the world who can truly help change these terrible circumstances.' As the Kremlin continues to speak about peace — most recently on Wednesday, when the Russian President Vladimir Putin told Pope Leo XIV that he had 'interest in achieving peace' — it continues to terrorise Ukrainian civilians with daily aerial attacks. A tally compiled by CNN shows that as of Thursday morning, at least 30 Ukrainian civilians have been killed and more than 150 injured in Russian strikes this week alone, including eight in just the past 24 hours. The attack also comes soon after another phone call between Putin and US President Donald Trump, in which the Russian leader said he would respond to Kyiv's audacious drone attack on Russia's air force. Russia stepped up its airborne attacks against Ukraine in the past few months after it successfully managed to scale up domestic production of its own version of the Iranian -made Shahed drones, the type used most frequently in these attacks. Analysts say the brutal campaign is part of a deliberate strategy by Russia that is designed to create an impression that it has the upper hand in the conflict and undermine Ukraine's morale. The town of Pryluky, where the firefighter's family and two other people were killed overnight, declared two days of mourning on Thursday and Friday, ordering flags to be flown half-mast and black banners displayed on public buildings.
The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Russian strike kills five following Trump-Putin call
A Russian drone attack has killed the family of the local fire chief in Ukraine's northern town of Pryluky in Chernihiv region, Ukraine's interior minister says. Minister Ihor Klymenko said the attack killed the fire chief's wife, daughter and one-year-old grandson. "On this terrible night, the rescuer was on site with the fire and rescue team to deal with the aftermath of the enemy strikes," he wrote on Telegram, expressing his condolences. The family was among five people killed when Russia launched six drones to attack the town, regional governor Viacheslav Chaus said. Six more people were taken to hospital, he added. The attack came just hours after Donald Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Trump, Putin said "very strongly" that Russia will retaliate for Ukraine's weekend stunning drone attacks on Russian military airfields. Earlier Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy proposed implementing a ceasefire until a meeting can be arranged with Putin. "My proposal, which I believe our partners can support, is that we agree a ceasefire with the Russians until the leaders meet," Zelenskiy told a briefing in Kyiv. "At this time, people will understand that the nations, Europe, Ukraine and the whole world have a chance to end the war," he said, adding that monitoring of the ceasefire could be discussed at the meeting. Zelenskiy said Ukraine would "be grateful" for support for the idea from the US president. After Ukraine bombed bridges and attacked Russia's fleet of nuclear-capable bombers deep in Siberia and Russia's far north, Putin on Wednesday said he did not think Ukraine's leaders wanted peace. Shortly after Putin discussed the attacks with top ministers in Moscow, Trump said he had spoken by telephone with Putin for one hour and 15 minutes, and that they had discussed the Ukrainian attacks and Iran. "We discussed the attack on Russia's docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides. It was a good conversation but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace," Trump said on social media. Russia has resisted calls from Ukraine and its allies for a ceasefire, saying that certain conditions must first be met. On Wednesday Putin repeated Russia's stance that any ceasefire would simply be used by Ukraine to acquire more foreign weapons. Putin said the attacks on the bridge in Bryansk and another one in Kursk had been directed clearly against the civilian population and that the attacks were evidence that the Ukrainian government "was degenerating into a terrorist organisation, and its sponsors are becoming accomplices of terrorists". "The current Kyiv regime does not need peace at all," Putin said at a televised meeting with senior officials. "What is there to talk about? How can we negotiate with those who rely on terror?" Zelenskiy said President Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, which hosted peace talks on Monday, had expressed support for a top-level meeting of the presidents of Ukraine, Russia, the US and Turkey. The June 2 talks in Istanbul made little progress towards ending the three-year-old war in Ukraine although the sides exchanged proposals as well as a plan for another major swap of prisoners of war. Zelenskiy said the POW exchange would begin over the weekend. "The Russian side has informed us that this weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, it can return 500 people," he said. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov has previously said the next exchange would focus on swapping the severely wounded and the young, as well as the bodies of dead soldiers. Zelenskiy's chief of staff Andriy Yermak said on Wednesday he met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington DC during his visit there. "We discussed the situation at the frontline and the need to strengthen support for Ukraine in the area of air defence," he wrote on social media. with AP A Russian drone attack has killed the family of the local fire chief in Ukraine's northern town of Pryluky in Chernihiv region, Ukraine's interior minister says. Minister Ihor Klymenko said the attack killed the fire chief's wife, daughter and one-year-old grandson. "On this terrible night, the rescuer was on site with the fire and rescue team to deal with the aftermath of the enemy strikes," he wrote on Telegram, expressing his condolences. The family was among five people killed when Russia launched six drones to attack the town, regional governor Viacheslav Chaus said. Six more people were taken to hospital, he added. The attack came just hours after Donald Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Trump, Putin said "very strongly" that Russia will retaliate for Ukraine's weekend stunning drone attacks on Russian military airfields. Earlier Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy proposed implementing a ceasefire until a meeting can be arranged with Putin. "My proposal, which I believe our partners can support, is that we agree a ceasefire with the Russians until the leaders meet," Zelenskiy told a briefing in Kyiv. "At this time, people will understand that the nations, Europe, Ukraine and the whole world have a chance to end the war," he said, adding that monitoring of the ceasefire could be discussed at the meeting. Zelenskiy said Ukraine would "be grateful" for support for the idea from the US president. After Ukraine bombed bridges and attacked Russia's fleet of nuclear-capable bombers deep in Siberia and Russia's far north, Putin on Wednesday said he did not think Ukraine's leaders wanted peace. Shortly after Putin discussed the attacks with top ministers in Moscow, Trump said he had spoken by telephone with Putin for one hour and 15 minutes, and that they had discussed the Ukrainian attacks and Iran. "We discussed the attack on Russia's docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides. It was a good conversation but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace," Trump said on social media. Russia has resisted calls from Ukraine and its allies for a ceasefire, saying that certain conditions must first be met. On Wednesday Putin repeated Russia's stance that any ceasefire would simply be used by Ukraine to acquire more foreign weapons. Putin said the attacks on the bridge in Bryansk and another one in Kursk had been directed clearly against the civilian population and that the attacks were evidence that the Ukrainian government "was degenerating into a terrorist organisation, and its sponsors are becoming accomplices of terrorists". "The current Kyiv regime does not need peace at all," Putin said at a televised meeting with senior officials. "What is there to talk about? How can we negotiate with those who rely on terror?" Zelenskiy said President Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, which hosted peace talks on Monday, had expressed support for a top-level meeting of the presidents of Ukraine, Russia, the US and Turkey. The June 2 talks in Istanbul made little progress towards ending the three-year-old war in Ukraine although the sides exchanged proposals as well as a plan for another major swap of prisoners of war. Zelenskiy said the POW exchange would begin over the weekend. "The Russian side has informed us that this weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, it can return 500 people," he said. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov has previously said the next exchange would focus on swapping the severely wounded and the young, as well as the bodies of dead soldiers. Zelenskiy's chief of staff Andriy Yermak said on Wednesday he met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington DC during his visit there. "We discussed the situation at the frontline and the need to strengthen support for Ukraine in the area of air defence," he wrote on social media. with AP A Russian drone attack has killed the family of the local fire chief in Ukraine's northern town of Pryluky in Chernihiv region, Ukraine's interior minister says. Minister Ihor Klymenko said the attack killed the fire chief's wife, daughter and one-year-old grandson. "On this terrible night, the rescuer was on site with the fire and rescue team to deal with the aftermath of the enemy strikes," he wrote on Telegram, expressing his condolences. The family was among five people killed when Russia launched six drones to attack the town, regional governor Viacheslav Chaus said. Six more people were taken to hospital, he added. The attack came just hours after Donald Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Trump, Putin said "very strongly" that Russia will retaliate for Ukraine's weekend stunning drone attacks on Russian military airfields. Earlier Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy proposed implementing a ceasefire until a meeting can be arranged with Putin. "My proposal, which I believe our partners can support, is that we agree a ceasefire with the Russians until the leaders meet," Zelenskiy told a briefing in Kyiv. "At this time, people will understand that the nations, Europe, Ukraine and the whole world have a chance to end the war," he said, adding that monitoring of the ceasefire could be discussed at the meeting. Zelenskiy said Ukraine would "be grateful" for support for the idea from the US president. After Ukraine bombed bridges and attacked Russia's fleet of nuclear-capable bombers deep in Siberia and Russia's far north, Putin on Wednesday said he did not think Ukraine's leaders wanted peace. Shortly after Putin discussed the attacks with top ministers in Moscow, Trump said he had spoken by telephone with Putin for one hour and 15 minutes, and that they had discussed the Ukrainian attacks and Iran. "We discussed the attack on Russia's docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides. It was a good conversation but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace," Trump said on social media. Russia has resisted calls from Ukraine and its allies for a ceasefire, saying that certain conditions must first be met. On Wednesday Putin repeated Russia's stance that any ceasefire would simply be used by Ukraine to acquire more foreign weapons. Putin said the attacks on the bridge in Bryansk and another one in Kursk had been directed clearly against the civilian population and that the attacks were evidence that the Ukrainian government "was degenerating into a terrorist organisation, and its sponsors are becoming accomplices of terrorists". "The current Kyiv regime does not need peace at all," Putin said at a televised meeting with senior officials. "What is there to talk about? How can we negotiate with those who rely on terror?" Zelenskiy said President Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, which hosted peace talks on Monday, had expressed support for a top-level meeting of the presidents of Ukraine, Russia, the US and Turkey. The June 2 talks in Istanbul made little progress towards ending the three-year-old war in Ukraine although the sides exchanged proposals as well as a plan for another major swap of prisoners of war. Zelenskiy said the POW exchange would begin over the weekend. "The Russian side has informed us that this weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, it can return 500 people," he said. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov has previously said the next exchange would focus on swapping the severely wounded and the young, as well as the bodies of dead soldiers. Zelenskiy's chief of staff Andriy Yermak said on Wednesday he met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington DC during his visit there. "We discussed the situation at the frontline and the need to strengthen support for Ukraine in the area of air defence," he wrote on social media. with AP A Russian drone attack has killed the family of the local fire chief in Ukraine's northern town of Pryluky in Chernihiv region, Ukraine's interior minister says. Minister Ihor Klymenko said the attack killed the fire chief's wife, daughter and one-year-old grandson. "On this terrible night, the rescuer was on site with the fire and rescue team to deal with the aftermath of the enemy strikes," he wrote on Telegram, expressing his condolences. The family was among five people killed when Russia launched six drones to attack the town, regional governor Viacheslav Chaus said. Six more people were taken to hospital, he added. The attack came just hours after Donald Trump spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Trump, Putin said "very strongly" that Russia will retaliate for Ukraine's weekend stunning drone attacks on Russian military airfields. Earlier Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy proposed implementing a ceasefire until a meeting can be arranged with Putin. "My proposal, which I believe our partners can support, is that we agree a ceasefire with the Russians until the leaders meet," Zelenskiy told a briefing in Kyiv. "At this time, people will understand that the nations, Europe, Ukraine and the whole world have a chance to end the war," he said, adding that monitoring of the ceasefire could be discussed at the meeting. Zelenskiy said Ukraine would "be grateful" for support for the idea from the US president. After Ukraine bombed bridges and attacked Russia's fleet of nuclear-capable bombers deep in Siberia and Russia's far north, Putin on Wednesday said he did not think Ukraine's leaders wanted peace. Shortly after Putin discussed the attacks with top ministers in Moscow, Trump said he had spoken by telephone with Putin for one hour and 15 minutes, and that they had discussed the Ukrainian attacks and Iran. "We discussed the attack on Russia's docked airplanes, by Ukraine, and also various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides. It was a good conversation but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace," Trump said on social media. Russia has resisted calls from Ukraine and its allies for a ceasefire, saying that certain conditions must first be met. On Wednesday Putin repeated Russia's stance that any ceasefire would simply be used by Ukraine to acquire more foreign weapons. Putin said the attacks on the bridge in Bryansk and another one in Kursk had been directed clearly against the civilian population and that the attacks were evidence that the Ukrainian government "was degenerating into a terrorist organisation, and its sponsors are becoming accomplices of terrorists". "The current Kyiv regime does not need peace at all," Putin said at a televised meeting with senior officials. "What is there to talk about? How can we negotiate with those who rely on terror?" Zelenskiy said President Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, which hosted peace talks on Monday, had expressed support for a top-level meeting of the presidents of Ukraine, Russia, the US and Turkey. The June 2 talks in Istanbul made little progress towards ending the three-year-old war in Ukraine although the sides exchanged proposals as well as a plan for another major swap of prisoners of war. Zelenskiy said the POW exchange would begin over the weekend. "The Russian side has informed us that this weekend, on Saturday and Sunday, it can return 500 people," he said. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov has previously said the next exchange would focus on swapping the severely wounded and the young, as well as the bodies of dead soldiers. Zelenskiy's chief of staff Andriy Yermak said on Wednesday he met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington DC during his visit there. "We discussed the situation at the frontline and the need to strengthen support for Ukraine in the area of air defence," he wrote on social media. with AP
Sky News AU
7 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Ukraine ‘far from finished' in continued fight against Russia
Strategic Analysis Australia Director Peter Jennings says Ukraine is 'far from finished' and will continue its fight against Russia for as long as it's 'able to do so'. Russian leader Vladimir Putin has vowed to respond to Ukraine's recent attacks on an airfield and bridge during a phone call with United States President Donald Trump. In recent days the long-standing conflict has heated up as Kyiv retaliated with drone strikes on Russian aircraft parked at an airfield, damaging or destroying 41 strategic bombers that it said had been used against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
