Far-Right Candidate Unexpectedly Leads Romanian Presidential Race

An unexpected frontrunner has emerged in the initial round of Romania’s presidential election: a far-right, pro-Russia candidate. With over 99% of ballots tallied, ultranationalist Calin Georgescu secured 23% of the vote. He was trailed by Elena Lasconi, the centre-right candidate from the Save Romania Union, and Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, a populist social democrat who had been considered the favourite before the election. Georgescu’s robust performance, particularly notable given his independent status and reliance on the social media platform TikTok for campaigning, constituted the most significant upset of the election. Current vote totals indicate Lasconi holds a slight advantage over Ciolacu, by approximately 2,000 votes, positioning her to compete against Georgescu in the decisive presidential run-off scheduled for 8 December. On Monday morning, Ciolacu submitted his resignation as the head of the Social Democrats. According to political commentator Radu Magdin, the level of backing for Georgescu is unparalleled, especially considering previous opinion polls had estimated his support at roughly 5%. Mr Magdin stated, “Never in our 34 years of democracy have we seen such a surge compared to surveys.” Georgescu’s success, achieved while campaigning with the slogan “Restore the dignity of the Romanian nation”, has garnered a positive reception from Russian media outlets. He had previously denounced the Nato ballistic missile defence shield, situated at the Deveselu military base in southern Romania, describing it as “a disgrace”. Georgescu had previously been a notable member of another far-right party, George Simion’s AUR (Alliance for the Union of Romanians). He was ultimately expelled from the party for being excessively radical after commending leaders of the Iron Guard, a Romanian fascist movement active during World War Two. However, late Sunday night, George Simion publicly backed Georgescu, appealing to the 1.3 million individuals who voted for Simion on Sunday to cast their support for Georgescu in the upcoming run-off. The strong performance by Georgescu presents a challenge for the millions of Romanian citizens who cast their ballots for alternative candidates. Should Elena Lasconi advance to the second round, as anticipated, a significant number of Social Democrat supporters, particularly those in rural regions, would likely encounter difficulty backing such a liberal, progressive candidate. The electoral campaign primarily centered on the escalating cost of living, given that Romania has the highest proportion of individuals at risk of poverty within the EU. Furthermore, public discontent regarding aid provided to Ukrainian refugees in Romania also contributed to the election dynamics. While the Romanian presidency is largely ceremonial, the office wields substantial influence in domains like foreign policy. Voter turnout reached 51%, a figure comparable to that observed five years prior.