In Romania, pro-Russian presidential candidate Calin Georgescu makes an unexpected breakthrough

INTERNATIONAL – Electoral earthquake in Romania. A pro-Russian candidate that no one expected placed himself to everyone's surprise this Sunday, November 24, ahead of pro-European Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu in the first round of the presidential election, according to partial results.

First given a clear lead by the exit polls, the 56-year-old social-democrat leader saw his 62-year-old far-right rival, Calin Georgescu, rise in the evening. After counting 98% of the ballots, the first obtained 19.55% of the votes, and the second some 22.6%.

His breakthrough is all the more surprising since the polls did not even place him among the three candidates most likely to qualify for the second round on December 8. In the meantime, legislative elections take place in a week. Elena Lasconi, center-right mayor of a small town, currently appears in third position with 18% of the vote, ahead of nationalist candidate George Simion (14%).

The far right “big winner” of the election

Whatever the outcome of the vote, “the far right is by far the big winner of this election”commented political scientist Cristian Pirvulescu for AFP. This won more than a third of the votes. According to experts, she took advantage of a tense social and geopolitical climate in this loyal EU and NATO member state, located at the gates of Ukraine.

It is an upheaval for this country of 19 million inhabitants which has until now resisted nationalist postures, distinguishing itself from Hungary or Slovakia. On television, commentators were perplexed by the turn of events, while remaining cautious while awaiting the final count.

Marcel Ciolacu, who earlier thanked his voters for a result “crystal clear”did not speak again. On the far right, the leader of the AUR (Alliance for the Unity of Romanians) party George Simion has already congratulated his opponent, rejoicing that a “sovereignist” finds himself in the second round. This fan of Donald Trump was however the one that the polls already saw in the second round against Marcel Ciolacu.

Calin Georgescu has won over in recent days with a TikTok campaign that has gone viral, focused on the need to stop aid to Ukraine. “Tonight, the Romanian people cried out for peace. And he shouted very loudly, extremely loudly.”he reacted.

Campaign to Stop Aid to Ukraine

After ten years in power of Klaus Iohannis, a fervent supporter of kyiv who became very unpopular due in particular to his costly trips abroad financed with public money, the Romanians have therefore set their sights on anti-system candidates, against a backdrop of rising ultra-conservative movements in Europe.

Romania, sharing a 650-kilometer border with Ukraine and bordered by the Black Sea, plays a strategic role « vital »recalls in a study by the New Strategy Center think tank. Both for NATO, of which it houses more than 5,000 soldiers, and for the transit of Ukrainian cereals.

With these good scores in the presidential election, the extreme right should benefit from“a contagion effect” in the legislative elections on December 1, predicts Cristian Pirvulescu. Which bodes difficult negotiations to form a coalition. The social democrats, heirs of the former communist party which has structured the country's political life for more than three decades, currently govern in coalition with the liberals of the PNL.

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