The Romanian legislative elections of 1is December were a real resistance test for a young democracy located on the borders of the European Union (EU). With a participation rate of 52.50%, compared to only 31.84% during the previous legislative elections of 2020, voters responded more to the call of the polls. But the central question was not only about the renewal of Parliament. It posed a crucial alternative: continue to anchor itself firmly in the West and in the Euro-Atlantic space or give in to the sirens of a rapprochement towards the East and Vladimir Putin's Russia.
These legislative elections have only reinforced this polarization of Romanian society. After the counting in 99% of polling stations, the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the main center-left party, maintained its dominant position with 23% of the votes. But the real event is the spectacular rise of the ultranationalist Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), which won 18% of the vote. With a sovereignist discourse and themes strongly aligned with Russian points of view, the AUR becomes the second political force in the country.
If we add the votes of small groups aligned with the extremists, more than 30% of Romanians voted for anti-European or pro-Russian parties. George Simion, charismatic leader of the AUR, welcomed this historic result: “The Romanian people voted for the sovereignists that we arehe declared after the polling stations closed. Our dream of sweeping the social democrats and liberals out of government is accomplished. »
No clear majority is required, even if a pro-European coalition combining the center right and the left seems the most likely hypothesis. These elections took place in a tense climate, marked by tensions linked to the war in Ukraine and a sharp rise in populist and anti-European speeches. They also take place in an unprecedented electoral sequence, between the first round of the presidential election on November 24 and the second round scheduled for December 8. The issue goes well beyond Romania's borders, with direct implications for European security.
Serious concerns in Brussels
The surprise of the first round of the presidential election was the breakthrough of Calin Georgescu, a pro-Russian extremist candidate who was able to capture the attention of a disillusioned electorate. This 62-year-old former engineer, without political support, but with his popularity on TikTok, beat out candidates from traditional backgrounds. With his short and powerful videos, he was able to mobilize a young electorate who is often far from the polls.
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