the pro-European Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, in an unexpected neck and neck with a pro-Russian candidate at the end of the first round

A monumental surprise is taking shape in Romania. According to results covering 85% of the ballots counted, Calin Georgescu received as many votes as the pro-European Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, in the first round of the presidential election on Sunday, November 24.

The pro-Russian candidate, whom the polls placed at less than 10% of voting intentions, obtained nearly 22% of the votes, against 21.6% for his rival, and will therefore qualify for the second round, if this trend continues. confirmed.

When the polls closed in the early evening, the polls placed the head of the social-democratic government in the lead ahead of Elena Lasconi, the center-right mayor of a small town. The reality could be quite different at the end of the counting.

“The scores are very close, it is not yet time to celebrate”had this 52-year-old former journalist converted to politics, currently credited with 16.6% of the vote. Also calling for caution, Mr. Ciolacu, 56, thanked his voters, while asking to wait for the complete count to know who he will face on December 8.

The breakthrough of Mr. Georgescu, 62, as well as that of George Simion (Alliance for the Unity of Romanians), who won 14.5% of the votes, is an upheaval for this country of 19 million inhabitants which has until here resisted nationalist postures, distancing itself from Hungary or Slovakia.

“Tonight, the Romanian people cried out for peace. And he shouted very loudly, extremely loudly.”reacted Mr. Georgescu, who owes his score to a TikTok campaign that went viral, focused on the need to stop aid to Ukraine.

“Vital” role

Mr. Simion, whom some polls before the first round had placed in the race for the second round, has already congratulated Mr. Georgescu, rejoicing that a “sovereignist” finds himself in the second round. This big fan of Donald Trump, aged 38, has now promised “two more battles”during the legislative elections of 1^is December and a week later for the second round of the presidential election.

After ten years in power of Klaus Iohannis, fervent supporter of kyiv and tireless advocate of European values, this election carries heavy stakes, even if the position of president is essentially ceremonial.

Romania, which shares a 650-kilometer border with Ukraine and is 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.