Electoral earthquake in Romania: a pro-Russian candidate that no one expected won this Sunday, November 24, in the first round of the presidential elections, ahead of the pro-European Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, after a recount of more than 98% of the votes.
With a clear early lead in the exit polls, the 56-year-old Social Democratic leader saw his far-right rival, Calin Georgescu, 62, rise again overnight.
After counting 98.66% of the votes, Calin Georgescu obtained 22.59% of the votes, compared to 19.55% for Marcel Ciolacu. Elena Lasconi, a center-right mayor of a small town, is in third place with 18.84%. Favored by the extreme right before the elections, George Simion, of the AUR party (Alliance for the Unity of Romanians), must be content with fourth place, with 13.94%.
As things stand, Calin Georgescu and Marcel Ciolacu are expected to face each other in a second round scheduled for December 8, while legislative elections will be held on December 1.
Whatever the result of the vote, “the extreme right is by far the big winner of these elections”, with more than 35% of the votes, comments political scientist Cristian Pirvulescu. According to experts, he took advantage of the tense social and geopolitical climate in this loyal EU and NATO member state, located on the doorstep of Ukraine.
Advancement of the extreme right during the legislative elections?
It is a disruption for this country of 19 million inhabitants that until now has resisted nationalist positions, distinguishing itself from Hungary or Slovakia. The President of the Romanian Republic performs an essentially ceremonial function but exercises an important moral authority.
George Simion congratulated his opponent and was glad that a “sovereignist” found himself in the second round. With his passionate speech with mystical and conspiratorial overtones, this great admirer of Donald Trump was considered one of the favorites.
But if he knew how to take advantage of the anguish of a part of the population impoverished by high inflation, he also wanted to project a moderate image that “does not favor the most radical,” analyzes Cristian Pirvulescu.
On the contrary, Calin Georgescu has attracted attention in recent days with a TikTok campaign that has gone viral, focused on the need to stop aid to Ukraine. “This afternoon the Romanian people shouted for peace and shouted very loudly, very loudly,” he reacted.
After ten years in power by Klaus Iohannis, an ardent supporter of kyiv who became very unpopular due, in particular, to his expensive trips abroad financed by public money, Romanians have set their sights on anti-establishment candidates, in a context of rise of ultra-conservative movements in Europe.
Based on these good results in the presidential elections, the far right should benefit from “a contagion effect” in the legislative elections on December 1, predicts Cristian Pirvulescu. Which portends difficult negotiations to form a coalition. The Social Democrats, heirs of the former communist party that has structured the country’s political life for more than three decades, currently govern in coalition with the PNL liberals.
Source: BFM TV
