Romanian presidential candidate Calin Georgescu at the tv station 'Digi 24' in Bucharest, Romania, on November 13. AFP File Photo
A far-right, pro-Russia candidate unexpectedly took the lead on Monday in Romania's presidential election, boosting his party's prospects for a parliamentary vote this week that could bring about a strategic shift for the eastern European NATO member. Calin Georgescu was in the lead with 23% after the first round of voting on Sunday, a political shock in a country of 19 million that has so far resisted nationalist appeals seen in neighboring countries. His victory and the second-place finish by Elena Lasconi, a center-right mayor, dashed Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu's hopes of competing for the presidency in the second-round runoff on December 8. Lasconi scored 19.18%, ahead of Ciolacu's 19.15%, who told reporters that his Social Democratic Party (PSD) 'won't challenge' the narrow result and announced his resignation as party leader.
Experts say the far right's unexpected success could significantly impact the parliamentary elections later this week, making it difficult to form a viable coalition government. Extremist forces and Lasconi's center-right party now have 'wind in their sails', according to sociologist Gelu Duminica, though 'it remains to be seen if they know how to capitalize' on it. Georgescu's popularity surged ahead of the vote with a viral TikTok campaign calling for an end to aid for Ukraine, which shares a 650-kilometer (400-mile) border with Romania. He has also expressed skepticism about Romania's NATO membership, a crucial issue as the defense alliance supports Kyiv in its fight against Russia's invasion launched in 2022.
'Tonight, the Romanian people cried out for peace. And they shouted very loudly, extremely loudly,' Georgescu said late Sunday. 'The far right is by far the big winner of this election,' political scientist Cristian Pirvulescu told AFP, referring to the result that sent shockwaves across the country. Maria Chis, 70, said she was surprised by Georgescu's lead in the first round but had been impressed after watching his TikTok videos. 'He seems a man of integrity, serious and patriotic. He inspires seriousness. I think only someone like him can bring change,' said the pensioner, who shunned the ballot but said she was planning to vote for Georgescu in the second round. Alex Tudose, the owner of a construction company, was disheartened. 'There is sorrow, disappointment, that after so many years in Euro-Atlantic structures we voted for a pro-Russian by over 20 percent,' the 42-year-old said. 'There is clearly a strong fragmentation both in society and in the political class, and I think we saw that yesterday,' he added.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia did not know much about Georgescu: 'I can't say that we are very familiar with the worldview of this candidate, as far as it concerns relations with our country.' Ciolacu's Social Democrat party has shaped Romania's politics for more than three decades. But with concerns mounting over inflation and the war in neighboring Ukraine, anti-establishment parties had appeared to be gaining ground ahead of the vote. Ciolacu has also been criticized for his use of private jets. The stakes are high for Romania, which has become a key regional player since Russia invaded its neighbor in 2022. The Black Sea nation now plays a 'vital strategic role' for NATO—as it is a base for more than 5,000 soldiers—and for the transit of Ukrainian grain, according to the New Strategy Center think tank. The campaign was marked by controversy and personal attacks, with George Simion, another far-right candidate, who came fourth in the first round, facing accusations of meeting with Russian spies—a claim he has denied.
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