The Mobilisation of a Conservative Movement in Romania: The Case of AUR

The 2017 anti-corruption #Resist contentious actors promoted a type of politics that is more European, but also more neo liberal. They managed to mobilize heterogenous groups with different ideological backgrounds into the most popular and intense wave of protests after the fall of communism. This set a precedent and created a model of activism based on grassroots mobilization which created a context of emulation for some right-wing movements. Following the 2018 referendum and the imposition of COVID-19 restrictions a significant share of the electorate turned to actors that aggressively promoted nationalist agenda, anti-lockdown measures, mixed up with elements derived from conspiracy theories. The article seeks to explain the dynamics that ultimately resulted in the electoral success of AUR (Alianța pentru Unitatea Românilor- The Alliance for the Unity of Romanians) a new movement party that capitalized on conservative and nationalist values. The main argument is that the restrictions imposed by the government accelerated the mobilization of the conservative voices in the Romanian society. Coupled with a low turnout and an intense online electoral campaign, the party managed to secure 9% of the electoral vote in the 2020 parliamentary elections. With the examples of party programs and speeches of AUR leaders during the anti-vaccine and anti-mask protests and the impact of their posts during the 2020 electoral campaign this article shows how AUR not only mobilized old nationalist and religious sentiments but also tried to present itself as a party that took interest in the economic and social consequences of COVID-19.