A Little-Known Pro-Russian Candidate Wins Romanian Presidential Election
A surprise winner emerged in the first round of Romania’s presidential election, as Calin Georgescu, a fringe politician, secured 23% of the votes. The result has sent shockwaves through Romanian politics and adds to the trend of Europe’s lurch to the right.
Georgescu, who ran as an independent and used social media platform TikTok to promote himself, has questioned military support for Ukraine and has expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin. He will face opposition leader Elena Lasconi in a runoff election on December 8th.
The unexpected outcome has dealt a significant blow to Romania’s traditional parties, with the ruling Social Democrats and the Liberal Party struggling to recover. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who was initially considered the front-runner, has resigned from the leadership of the Social Democrats but will remain as premier until after the parliamentary election on December 1st.
The result has sparked concerns about the level of dissatisfaction in the Romanian population and has raised questions about the country’s stance on Ukraine and its membership in NATO. Romania has faced intense hybrid attacks from Russia, and the outcome of the election may have implications for the country’s relationship with the West.
The parliamentary election on December 1st is now expected to be highly contested, with the Social Democrats likely to face a significant challenge from opposition parties. The outcome could have far-reaching consequences for Romanian politics and its place in the European Union.
