“Political earthquake” recorded in Romania’s presidential election
25 November 15:42
The pro-Russian far-right candidate Kelin Georgescu won the first round of the presidential election in Romania with 23% of the vote. This was reported on the website of the Central Election Commission of Romania, Komersant ukrainskyi reports.
Liberal leader Elena Lasconi is in second place (19.2%), and the favorite of the polls, current Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, took third place. The gap between second and third place was just over 2,000 votes.
The Financial Times, reporting on the leadership of Kelin Georgescu, emphasizes that the pro-Russian far-right politician won the first round of the presidential election in Romania, dealing a serious blow to the country’s political establishment.
A researcher at Aarhus University in Denmark, Costin Ciobanu, believes that “this is a political earthquake for Romania.”
The current president, a representative of the National Liberals, Klaus Iohannis, who actively supports Ukraine, has been in office for two terms, so he could not participate in the election.
What we know about the leader of the presidential race in Romania
Kelin Georgescu was previously associated with the radical nationalist party Alliance for the Unification of Romanians, but, according to The Financial Times, he ran as an independent candidate and was not considered a leader.
Previously, Georgescu has questioned Romania’s membership in NATO, arguing that the country sees no clear benefits from the alliance. He has also criticized the deployment of a missile shield in Romania, making statements that echo those of Russian President Putin. In 2020, he called Putin one of the few “true leaders” in the world and said that the Russian president “loves his country.”
During his tenure as an honorary member of the Alliance for the Unification of Romanians, Georgescu was widely condemned for his support of Romanian far-right leaders of the past. He also called the pro-Nazi dictator of Romania, Ion Antonescu, who murdered hundreds of thousands of Jews, a “martyr.”
What’s next
Since none of the candidates received more than 50% of the vote last Sunday, a second round of elections will be held in two weeks. And in it, Calin Georgescu will compete with Elena Lasconi, who took second place in the first round.
Elena Lasconi is the leader of the main opposition party, the Romanian Salvation Union.
Local observers suggest that in the second round, Elena Lasconi may unite pro-European voters against pro-Russian Kelin Georgescu, given that his campaign is aimed at reducing dependence on the EU and NATO.
The winner of the presidential election will hold the most influential post in Romania, with the right to appoint the prime minister, lead coalition negotiations, and have the final say on security and foreign policy.
