Wednesday 14 October @ 14:00 CET

On Wednesday, the Romanian AUR Delegation of the ECR Group will host the international conference “Snap Elections: The Democratic Return to the Vote of the European Citizens”.

During the debate, ECR MEPs Adrian Axinia, Georgiana Teodorescu and Gheorghe Piperea will bring together academics, policymakers, leading experts on constitutional laws in Member States, and journalists to debate along with other fellow Members of the European Parliament what happens when a political establishment becomes isolated by elitism, detached from everyday realities of its citizens, and stagnant in its vision. When is the regular electoral cycle no longer a sufficient safeguard? Political mandates are neither permanent nor unconditional. Once governance fails, the ultimate authority must instantly go back to the people. The vote remains the unique undeniable instrument of citizen sovereignty.

When: Wednesday @ 14:00 – 17:00

Where: SPAAK 1A2

AGENDA

Opening Remarks

• Georgiana TEODORESCU (MEP, professor, Romania)
• Patryk JAKI (MEP, Co-Chair of ECR Group, Poland)
• George SIMION (MP, President of AUR Party, Executive Vice-President of ECR Party, Romania)

Panel 1. Snap elections from a European perspective.

Moderator: Ryszard CZARNECKI (former MEP and Vice-President of the European Parliament, Poland)

Speakers:

• Kosma ZLOTOWSKI (MEP, Poland)
• Stefano CAVEDAGNA (MEP, Italy)
• Branko GRIMS (MEP, Slovenia)
• Nicholas BAY (MEP, France)
• Ivaylo VALCHEV (MEP, Bulgaria) – TBC
• Diego SOLIER (MEP, Spain)
• Kristoffer STORM (MEP, Denmark)

Panel 2. Snap elections from a national perspective. Case study: Romania

Moderator: Adrian AXINIA (MEP, Romania)

Speakers:

• George SIMION (MP, President of AUR Party, Executive Vice-President of ECR Party, Romania)
• Andrzej DUDA (former president of Poland) – video message – TBC
• Cosmin CORENDEA (MP, Romania)
• Jacek SARYUSZ-WOLSKI (Advisor to the President of Poland, former Vice-President of the European Parliament, Poland)
• Fabian RADU (MP, Romania)
• Nikola GRMOJA (MP, Croatia)
• Vasile COSTIUC (MP, Republic of Moldova)

Panel 3. Snap elections from an academic perspective.

Moderator: Gheorghe PIPEREA (MEP, professor, Romania)

Speakers:

• Dan DUNGACIU (professor, First Vice-President of AUR Party, Romania)
• Nicolas DE SADELEER (professor of EU and comparative law at UCLouvain St-Louis University, Bruselles)
• Oskar KIDA (expert in constitutional law, Poland)
• Przemysław SOBOLEWSKI (professor, Poland)
• Andrej KOLARIK (executive manager at Ladislav Hanus Institute, Slovakia) – video message
• Richard J. SCHENK (Research Director, Freedom & Sovereignty Initiative Europe)
• Petar ILIEV (professor, Bulgaria) – video message
• Brice HAMARD (EU law & Policy Analyst, France)

Panel 4. Snap elections from civil society’s perspective.

Moderator: Iosefina PASCAL (journalist, Romania)

Speakers:

• Sorin ROȘCA STĂNESCU (journalist, Romania)
• Jim FERGUSON (journalist, UK)
• Cora MUNTEAN (journalist, Romania)