ECHOES OF NATIONALISM: THE PARTY FOR THE ALLIANCE OF ROMANIA (AUR) POLITICAL NARRATIVE ON ROMANIA’S SCHENGEN INTEGRATION

Abstract

By using the public's general dissatisfaction and negative feelings regarding the political class, far-right parties have succeeded in gaining the favour of the people all over Europe. They have reached success by criticising the status quo and by often promoting
nationalist and Eurosceptic ideologies. The Party for the Alliance of Romania (AUR), founded in 2019, also followed this trend, shaping itself around ultra-nationalist and anti-establishment rhetoric and a strong social media presence. This paper looks into how AUR weaponised the potential Schengen ascension to further their Eurosceptic discourse and to fabricate a depiction of 'the people' pitted against 'the corrupt political elite’. A qualitative content analysis was conducted on Facebook posts from key AUR members and official party statements over a six-month period, respectively, three months before and after the Schengen decision. The paper looks into the narrative techniques by which the AUR party paints Romania as a victim of both external and internal forces. Results show that AUR intentionally frames the Schengen rejection to mobilise its supporters. It does so by targeting other EU states and depicting them as national enemies, and by criticising the Romanian government. With this framing, the party can position itself as the sole defender of national interests. This paper highlights how AUR uses the Schengen issue to deepen societal divisions and promote Euroscepticism, contributing to the broader understanding of political discourse and far-right dynamics in Romania.