In Romania, a pro-Russian candidate creates a surprise in the presidential election

Photo: Alexandru Dobre Associated Press Calin Georgescu has seduced in recent days with a TikTok campaign that has gone viral.

Ani Sandu – Agence France-Presse in Bucharest

Published yesterday at 22:24

• Europe

Electoral earthquake in Romania: a pro-Russian candidate that no one expected came out on top in the first round of the presidential election on Sunday ahead of pro-European Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, after more than 98% of the votes were counted.

Initially given a clear lead by exit polls, the 56-year-old social-democrat leader saw his 62-year-old far-right rival, Calin Georgescu, come back in the evening.

After counting 98.66% of the ballots, Mr. Georgescu received 22.59% of the votes, compared to 19.55% for Mr. Ciolacu.

Elena Lasconi, center-right mayor from a small town, came in third with 18.84%. Given as the favorite on the far right before the election, George Simion of the AUR party (Alliance for the Unity of Romanians) had to settle for 4th place, with 13.94%.

As things stand, Mr. Georgescu and Mr. Ciolacu are set to face off in a second round scheduled for December 8, with legislative elections in the meantime on December 1.

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, political scientist Cristian Pirvulescu told AFP.

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According to experts, it took advantage of a tense social and geopolitical climate in this loyal EU and NATO member state, located on the doorstep of Ukraine.

It is an upheaval for this country of 19 million inhabitants which has so far resisted nationalist posturing, setting itself apart from Hungary or Slovakia. The President of the Romanian Republic occupies an essentially ceremonial function but exercises an important moral authority.

TikTok Campaign

George Simion congratulated his opponent, rejoicing that a “sovereignist” found himself in the second round.

With his impassioned speech with mystical and conspiratorial overtones, Mr. Simion, 38, a big fan of Donald Trump, was considered one of the favorites.

But if he knew how to capitalize on the distress of a part of the population impoverished by high inflation, he also wanted to project a moderate image that “did not work for him among the most radical,” analyzes Mr. Pirvulescu.

Conversely, Mr. Georgescu seduced in recent days with a TikTok campaign that went viral, focused on the need to stop aid to Ukraine. “Tonight, the Romanian people cried out for peace. And he screamed very loudly, extremely loudly,” he responded.

“Change”

After ten years in power of Klaus Iohannis, a fervent supporter of kyiv who has become very unpopular due in particular to his expensive trips abroad financed with public money, Romanians have therefore set their sights on anti-system candidates, against a backdrop of the rise of ultra-conservative movements in Europe.

In Bucharest, several residents told AFP of their desire for “change, to finally see things move”, like Andreea Irimie, a 29-year-old teacher who came to vote on a cold, sunny Sunday, while others spoke of their fear of war.

Romania, which shares a 650-kilometre border with Ukraine and is bordered by the Black Sea, plays a “vital” strategic role, the New Strategy Center think tank recalls in a study. Both for NATO, which hosts more than 5,000 soldiers, and for the transit of Ukrainian grain.

Buoyed by these good results in the presidential election, the extreme right should benefit from “a contagion effect” in the legislative elections on December 1, predicts Mr. Pirvulescu. This augurs difficult negotiations to form a coalition.

The social democrats, heirs of the old communist party that has structured the country’s political life for more than three decades, are currently governing in coalition with the liberals of the PNL.