The political evolution of (Neo)Legionarism, from pocket political parties, such as those created by Marian Munteanu, to organizations like The New Right (Noua Dreaptă) – the connecting link between (Neo)Legionarism and sovereigntism – and politicians who frequently make the front page, such as George Simion, Călin Georgescu and Diana Șoșoacă.
Three quarters of the world's population will get cancer due to deliberate air poisoning, says conspiratorial MEP Diana Şoşoacă.
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A new word is gradually gaining traction across media and political debates: “sovereignists”. How does it all impact liberal democracy? To what extent can sovereignists influence EU politics?
Romanian extremists seem to believe that the return of Donald Trump is bound to bring them more voters and legitimize a type of discourse marked by populism and false narratives. They also hope that Trump will help them get the power. It is a kind of oxymoronic reasoning that shows that, in fact, Romanian extremists do not even understand the meaning of the word they adopted to define themselves - "sovereignism".
Politicians, influencers, and some media outlets have promoted false narratives related to sovereigntist discourse, wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, climate denial, and conspiracy theories, from "sanitary dictatorship" to moon landing.
The political crisis in Romania will lead to the breakup of Transylvania from Romania, according to extremist MEP Diana Şoşoacă.
Narratives identical or similar to those fostered by Russian propaganda have also been circulated in the current election campaign in Romania. They transpired not only in the rhetoric of far-right parties, which for years have internalized such theses, but also in the statements of certain politicians aligned to Romania's pro-Western course.
There are no anti-EU, anti-NATO or far-right parties in Romania, claims Ion Cristoiu, a well-known promoter of narratives of Russian origin.
A recent report published by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticizes Romania’s “neo-Nazism” and describes as state policies the actions of certain pro-Russian extremists, including figures praised and cited by Kremlin propaganda.
The Romanian state prohibits small producers from selling their goods outside the area of residence, according to a false narrative promoted by sovereigntists.
The children of a Romanian family were taken in emergency care by the British social services and that was reason enough for the pro-Russian MEP Diana Şoşoacă to launch several false narratives
The HAARP system, with which the US can control the weather and cause earthquakes, has been installed in Romania, according to the pro-Russian politician Diana Şoşoacă.
The colonization of Romania, the war in Ukraine, conspiracy theories related to the "sanitary dictatorship" and climate change have been the favorite topics for most of the year’s false narratives.
The Romanian Parliament will vote in favor of abandoning the country’s neutrality in a secret sitting, the pro-Russian Romanian Senator Diana Șoșoacă says.
The president of Ukraine is no longer supported in the West, pro-Kremlin propaganda writes, calling Zelenskyy “an international beggar” and examining his visit to Bucharest.
Romania should not support Ukraine because its borders are not recognized, according to Senator Diana Sosoaca. This false narrative has been widely distributed by the Russian media.
The conspiracy theory according to which the authorities will separate Romanian children from their families is presented as the hidden purpose of a survey organized in the context of a testing addressing 8th-graders.
Integritatea teritorială a României este amenințată și doar o apropiere de Moscova ar putea împiedica pierderea Transilvaniei, potrivit unei narațiuni false promovate de senatoarea independentă Diana Șoșoacă. În realitate, integritatea teritorială a României e garantată de apartenența la NATO și de legislația internațională.
Ukraine attacked Romania with mines, so NATO should wage war against Kyiv under Article 5, believes the independent senator Diana Sosoaca. But the narrative is false. The mine that the Senator refers to is actually one from WWII, and Ukraine has placed mines only to protect its own shores.
According to the Romanian Senator Diana Șoșoacă, Ukraine will break into pieces and lose territories but, at the same time, it will form a state alongside Poland and contribute to the dismantling of Romania. The narratives are similar to those promoted by Russia, especially the meta-narrative regarding the artificial nature of the Ukrainian state.
The earthquake in Turkey was caused by the “the world’s great powers” - i.e. Westerners - to punish the country's president, Recep Tayip Erdoğan, Senator Diana Sosoaca believes. She presented her theory on the very rostrum of the Senate, in a statement stuffed with conspiracy theories, fake history, narratives about the war in Ukraine reminiscent of Russian propaganda and a call to battle with references to the Old Testament.
The war in Ukraine, sovereigntist rhetoric and conspiracy theories regarding the so-called sanitary dictatorship were the topics of scores of disinformation narratives and fake news published in Romania in 2022. They were promoted by/on various media outlets (România liberă, Național, Activenews, GoldFM, gândește.org etc.) as well as on social media by controversial figures such as Sorin Roșca Stănescu, Cosmin Gușă, Diana Șoșoacă and Adrian Severin.
Brussels has given the go-ahead for the physical and spiritual destruction of Romania, one of the last bastions in the fight against globalism, and a blackout will be triggered in this country so that sovereigntists can be taken out. This piece of disinformation stemmed from a dialogue between Luis Lazarus and Diana Iovanovici-Șoșoacă. Ridden with mystical drivel, lies and elements recalling of Nazi propaganda, the narrative surfaced in response to the first “blackout” simulation organized in Romania two weeks ago in Mediaș.
The most valuable Romanian company with state capital, Hidroelectrica, will be sold to foreigners, on the London Stock Exchange, according to a false narrative promoted by the controversial senator Diana Șoșoacă. In reality, the company will only be listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, and only the 19.94% owned by Fondul Proprietatea will be sold.
Romania will have to renounce its Constitution and sovereignty, according to a new disinformation amplified by Senator Diana Șoșoacă and Sputnik. The source headlines a statement falsely attributed to the head of the European Commission’s Office in Romania.