AGERPRES special correspondent Daniel Florea reports: George Simion, Chairman of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) and Vice-President of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Party, says that the solution to further preserving freedom of expression is not banning social networks, but for political decision-makers and social network owners to find ways so that provocative content is stopped while allowing freedom of expression to continue.
The AUR Chairman participates in the debate "Defending Western Values in the European Parliament", organized by the EP group of Conservatives and Reformists as part of the international conference "Make Europe Great Again (MEGA)", an event taking place in Brussels on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"As the leader of Romania's main opposition party, which, as you know, was affected by the unjustified cancellation of the December presidential election, I must say that no evidence to support this decision was presented to the Romanian or international public. Yesterday, the Venice Commission clearly said that you cannot cancel elections without presenting any evidence to the public. Therefore, after today's conference with the ECR Group and all the other events organized these days in Brussels, we will mount a symbolic protest in front of the European Parliament, at Place de Luxembourg. If any of the international guests would like to participate, the protest will take place tomorrow at 15:00 p.m. We invite you to symbolically profess your support for democracy, freedom of expression and the Romanian people, who are now irate at a regime that does not understand the democratic transition of power," George Simion declared.
He accused the social networks' censorship of the representatives of the conservative movement.
"Just like you and the entire conservative movement around the world, we have been censored on social media. (...) The solution isn't to ban social media, to stop people from using it, because you cannot stop democracy. Communication today is no longer one-way. People communicate with each other, they organize themselves, and the so-called 'populists' are, in fact, the most popular politicians in their countries. Donald Trump rode to victory using social media. (...) We can speak directly to the people, without spending huge amounts on TV networks that turn a blind eye to objectivity and that only channel the voice of their bosses. We, sovereignists, patriots, conservatives, don't want to be overlords. Our only lord is God. And we use social media to communicate directly with the people. My call on you is that in your work in the European Parliament and your national parliaments, whether we are talking about Paraguay, Argentina, Canada, the United States or Mexico, you discuss with the owners of social platforms to find solutions to combat misleading content and incitement, but to preserve freedom of expression and, in general, to fight together for freedoms," Simion said.
He stressed that the MEGA Conference in Brussels has participants from 25 of the 27 EU countries attending, and suggested as next steps the creation of "a wave of Make Europe Great Again events, starting in January, right at the European Parliament, until December 2025 - from Asuncion to Buenos Aires, from Nicosia to Athens."
"We must all unite in a historic movement. We must work together - national and European parties, MEPs and NGOs. (...) There is a clear need for debate. (...) I want our network and our people to be united. (...) We need a golden age for Europe. Some say that Europe is an old continent and that it's over and done with. I believe in our future. I believe in a united Europe, with partners from all countries inside and outside the European Union," Simion also declared.
The AUR Chairman thanked Elon Musk for his messages of support, over the past two years, for "the fight for freedom and the freedom of expression."
The second edition of the MEGA Conference has on its agenda the main challenges facing Europe and the entire world in this period, crucial challenges on which our very future and that of our children depends, AUR stated in a press briefing prior to the event.
The conference brings together hundreds of high-profile personalities, such as representatives of the European Parliament, members of national European and American parliaments, intellectuals and influencers from the conservative milieu.
Comentează