BUCHAREST, Romania — Romania’s political scene is experiencing a significant upheaval following the emergence of a relatively unknown far-right populist who topped the first round of the presidential election, as per the latest electoral data released on Monday. Calin Georgescu, a candidate running independently, will compete against reformist candidate Elena Lasconi in a runoff scheduled to take place in two weeks.
Georgescu, 62, has pulled ahead with approximately 22.95% of the votes counted so far. Following closely is Lasconi from the progressive Save Romania Union party (USR), who garnered about 19.17%. Just marginally trailing them was the incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu from the Social Democratic Party (PSD), who received 19.15%. George Simion, the head of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), managed to secure 13.87% of the votes.
This marks a historic first in Romania’s 35 years following the fall of communism, as the PSD has not advanced to the second round of a presidential contest, highlighting the growing anti-establishment sentiment among the electorate and delivering a significant blow to the nation’s dominant political party.
Voter turnout was notably robust, with about 9.4 million individuals, or roughly 52.5% of eligible voters, participating according to the Central Election Bureau. The decisive second round is set for December 8. Notably, Georgescu excelled in the votes from Romania’s extensive diaspora, receiving 43.3%, compared to Lasconi’s 26.8%.
Contrary to expectations from local polls, which projected him to receive under 10% support, Georgescu’s underdog status is rapidly shifting as his popularity surges. The president’s role in this European Union and NATO member nation comes with substantial authority, particularly in areas such as national security, international relations, and judicial appointments due to a five-year term.
After casting his vote on Sunday, Georgescu expressed through a Facebook post that he voted for “the unjust, for the humiliated, for those who feel they do not matter and actually matter the most … the vote is a prayer for the nation.” His qualifications include a doctorate in pedology, a field of soil science, and past roles within Romania’s environment ministry during the 1990s. Between 1999 and 2012, he represented Romania on the national committee of the United Nations Environment Program.
Despite lacking a well-defined political program, Georgescu has gained a significant following with his TikTok videos, amassing 1.7 million likes. However, the real test of his rising fame will emerge in the coming showdown against Lasconi.
Lasconi, a former journalist and current USR leader, has taken a strong stance against corruption and advocates for reform. Prior to the election, she articulated corruption as one of Romania’s most pressing issues and showed support for increased defense expenditures alongside ongoing aid to Ukraine. Should she secure victory in the final round, she would make history as Romania’s first female president.
Additionally, parliamentary elections are slated for December 1, which will shape the future government and determine the next prime minister of Romania.