Romanian presidential candidate Calin Georgescu addressed the press in Izvorani, Ilfov county, near Bucharest, on Tuesday. REUTERS
The unexpected far-right victor of the first round of Romania's presidential election has refuted claims that he intends to withdraw from NATO and the European Union, seemingly softening some of his earlier stances amid public outcry over his win. Having previously garnered only single-digit support ahead of Sunday's first round, independent right-wing politician Calin Georgescu, 62, achieved an astonishing victory, sparking questions about how this outcome was possible. He will now face centrist candidate Elena Lasconi in a run-off on December 8.
Georgescu's support was notably strong among young voters and Romanians residing abroad, with his campaign heavily promoted on TikTok. On Tuesday evening, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Bucharest, chanting slogans such as 'No Putin, no fear, Europe is our mother' and 'Young people ask you not to vote for a dictator.' Similar protests occurred in other major cities. Georgescu has previously lauded 1930s Romanian fascist figures as national heroes and martyrs, criticized NATO and Romania's pro-Ukraine stance, and advocated for engagement rather than confrontation with Russia.
However, in a Facebook live stream on Tuesday evening, he clarified: 'I do not wish to leave NATO, nor do I wish to leave the European Union. What I desire, though, is to take a firm stance, not to submit, not to accept everything. As I've said, we should act in our national interest.' Romania's National Audiovisual Council has urged the European Commission to scrutinize TikTok's role in the election, citing 'suspicions of public opinion manipulation.' Council Vice-President Valentin-Alexandru Jucan expressed concerns that the platform's algorithms may have disproportionately favored a single candidate and lacked transparency regarding election content sponsors.
Neither TikTok nor the European Commission has responded to requests for comment. Influencer and businessman Stefan Mandachi, who backed Georgescu before the vote, apologized on Facebook for his support, stating he voted against establishment parties without fully researching Georgescu's positions. Georgescu has claimed his campaign budget was zero, with all efforts carried out by volunteers. Analysts and politicians have suggested his unexpected victory, in contrast to pre-election polling data, indicates potential foreign interference in the election. Prior to the vote, Romania's intelligence agency informed lawmakers that no signs of national security breaches were detected.
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