NICOLAE CEAUSESCU, Romania’s last communist dictator, was deluded and power-mad, but he left his country’s politicians an impressive stage for speeches. On May 4th George Simion, leader of the hard-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), stood before the giant parliament Mr Ceausescu built, reputedly the world’s heaviest building, and presented himself as Romania’s Donald Trump. His party “totally agree[s] with MAGA ideology”, Mr Simion said. By midnight it was clear Mr Simion had won the first round of the presidential election, with 41% of the vote. The European Union’s club of populist leaders may soon get another member.