site.btaAmerican Lobbying Firm Denies Involvement in Romania’s AUR Party Presidential Campaign

American law firm BGD Legal and Consulting, whose USD 1.5 million lobbying contract with the nationalist Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) is listed on the U.S. Department of Justice website, has denied claims that it had received payment for such services. In a statement to Romanian media outlet Digi24, the firm said the contract had not come into effect and no money had been exchanged between them and AUR.

The contract has not taken effect and no payments have been made, the firm said.

On Thursday, Romania’s Permanent Electoral Authority said it was launching an investigation into AUR following media reports about a lobbying contract aimed at promoting party leader and presidential candidate George Simion in the United States.

AUR dismissed the claims of illegal financing as a “libellous campaign.”

AUR leader George Simion is running for president of Romania in the upcoming May elections and is currently leading in all public opinion polls, according to local media.

The latest Eurobarometer survey found that 70% of Romanians believe the EU has brought them benefits. Also, 74% of Europeans believe that their country benefits significantly from EU membership. However, according to the Adevarul daily, in the most recent presidential elections, Romanians voted against pro-European candidates. A recent opinion poll reflected a similar trend. It placed two representatives of the sovereigntist camp at the top: George Simion and Victor Ponta, the former leader of the Social Democratic Party.

On March 11, Romania's Constitutional Court removed far-right candidate Calin Georgescu from the presidential race. Following the Court's final decision, Simion stated that he would not run in the presidential elections but added that he would do whatever Georgescu tells him. On March 12, after meeting with Georgescu, Simion submitted his bid to run in May's presidential elections.