Far-right candidate takes surprising lead in Romania’s presidential race
Calin Georgescu, a far-right nationalist and pro-Russia candidate, shocked everyone by leading Romania’s presidential election after the first round of voting, as reported by the BBC. Georgescu, who has no political party and relied heavily on TikTok for his campaign, received 23% of the vote.
He is now set to compete in a final run-off on December 8 against Elena Lasconi, a center-right candidate from the Save Romania Union, who narrowly beat Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu for second place. Ciolacu, once considered the favorite, has already resigned as leader of the Social Democrats following this upset.
Political analyst Radu Magdin told the BBC this kind of voter surge is unprecedented in Romania’s 34 years of democracy. Earlier polls had predicted Georgescu would get just 5%, making his rise a major surprise. His slogan, “Restore the dignity of the Romanian nation,” seems to have struck a chord with voters.
The BBC highlights that Georgescu has previously criticized NATO’s military presence in Romania and has been praised in Russian media for his stance. He even received last-minute support from George Simion, the leader of the far-right AUR party, which had expelled Georgescu in the past for being too extreme.
However, Georgescu’s rise creates challenges for many voters. If Elena Lasconi, known for her liberal and progressive views, faces him in the second round, many Social Democrat supporters—especially those in rural areas—may hesitate to back her.
The election’s main focus was on high living costs, with Romania struggling as the EU country with the most people at risk of poverty. Some voters were also frustrated by government aid for Ukrainian refugees.
Though Romania’s president has limited powers, the role holds influence over foreign policy, making this race significant. The BBC reports that turnout was 51%, about the same as the last election.
Georgescu’s surprising success has sparked debates about Romania’s future direction and the growing influence of far-right politics in the country. (Credit: BBC)
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9dlw5pq967o