In a stunning twist in Romania’s presidential election, far-right, pro-Russia candidate Calin Georgescu has surged to the front in the first round, with preliminary results placing him ahead of pro-European rival Marcel Ciolacu. With 96% of votes counted, Georgescu, an ultranationalist with no political party backing, secured 22%, while Ciolacu, the Prime Minister, trailed closely with 20%.
The surprise performance of Georgescu, who ran a largely social media-driven campaign on TikTok, has shaken up the race. He now faces Ciolacu in a runoff on December 8th, presenting voters with a difficult choice. On one side is Ciolacu, a supporter of Romania’s pro-Western stance, and on the other is Georgescu, who vows to assert Romania’s sovereignty, distance the country from NATO, and challenge its alignment with the European Union.
The final outcome will depend on votes from Bucharest and the Romanian diaspora, but for now, Georgescu’s unexpected rise signals a shifting political landscape in Romania. With the election largely focused on issues like the high cost of living, this development sets the stage for a contentious final showdown.
ARY NEWS, BBC NEWS, CNN, GEO NEWS
