Calin Georgescu, 62, ignored by most opinion polls in recent weeks, obtained more than 22% of the vote this Sunday, November 24. He has won over in recent days with a TikTok campaign that has gone viral, focused on the need to stop aid to Ukraine.
Electoral earthquake in Romania: a pro-Russian candidate that no one expected came out on top this Sunday, November 24, in the first round of the presidential election ahead of pro-European Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, after the counting of more than 98% of the votes.
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 98.66% of the ballots, Calin Georgescu received 22.59% of the votes, compared to 19.55% for Marcel Ciolacu. Elena Lasconi, center-right mayor of a small town, comes in third place at 18.84%. Favored by the far right before the election, George Simion of the AUR party (Alliance for the Unity of Romanians) must be content with 4th place, at 13.94%.
As it stands, Calin Georgescu and Marcel Ciolacu are expected to face each other in a second round scheduled for December 8, with legislative elections on December 1 in the meantime.
Whatever the outcome of the vote, “the far right is by far the big winner of this election”, with more than 35% of the vote, comments political scientist Cristian Pirvulescu. 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.
Breakthrough of the far right during the legislative elections?
It is an upheaval for this country of 19 million inhabitants which has until now resisted nationalist postures, distinguishing itself from Hungary or Slovakia. The President of the Romanian Republic occupies an essentially ceremonial function but exercises an important moral magisterium.
George Simion congratulated his opponent, rejoicing that a “sovereignist” found himself in the second round. With his passionate speech with mystical and conspiratorial overtones, this big fan of Donald Trump was considered one of the favorites.
But if he was able to capitalize on the distress of a part of the population impoverished by high inflation, he also wanted to project a moderate image which “was a disservice to the most radical”, analyzes Cristian Pirvulescu.
Conversely, Calin Georgescu has attracted attention in recent days with a TikTok campaign that has gone viral, focused on the need to stop aid to Ukraine. “This evening, the Romanian people shouted for peace. And they shouted very loudly, extremely loudly,” he reacted.
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.
Building on these good scores in the presidential election, the far 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.
