Hundreds of individuals took to the streets in Bucharest following an unexpected victory by a far-right populist in the initial round of Romania’s presidential election, creating a wave of unrest just days ahead of parliamentary elections. One demonstrator held up a sign that proclaimed, “Better to be dead than a fascist.”
The critical vote on Sunday aims to establish a new government and appoint a prime minister for the EU and NATO-member nation. However, this parliamentary election coincides with the two rounds of the presidential race and is overshadowed by the uproar stemming from the results of the first round.
Despite having less than 10% in pre-election polls, the far-right candidate, Calin Georgescu, who has expressed admiration for Romanian fascist leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin, came out on top in the ballot held on November 24. He is set to compete against reformist candidate Elena Lasconi from the Save Romania Union in a runoff scheduled for December 8.
“It’s essential for the youth and all citizens to unite behind democracy,” said 18-year-old student Sebastian Marin during the protests. “We cannot allow figures like Georgescu to lead us.”
Georgescu’s surprising success is often attributed to his growing popularity on TikTok, prompting nightly protests across Romania from those who view him as a threat to democratic values.
A local think tank, Expert Forum, noted a significant and seemingly manufactured surge in Georgescu’s TikTok followership, paralleling his unexpected polling results. The nation’s defense body remarked that a specific candidate received advantageous exposure on TikTok, framing Romania as a “priority target for hostile actions” by Russia, a claim the Kremlin denies.
In a further twist, the Constitutional Court requested a recount of approximately 9.4 million votes after a complaint was filed by a former candidate alleging electoral law violations by the Save Romania Union, particularly concerning campaign activities on election day. The request was approved, and scanned voting reports are expected by Sunday night. The court has deferred its ruling on whether to annul the vote until Monday.
A diverse group of protesters, mostly comprising young people, gathered near the government headquarters and chanted, “Democracy saves Romania!” They voiced concerns regarding the proximity of the elections and the clarity of the recount process.
“I find it troubling that the elections are so close together,” remarked Andrei Ienculescu-Popovici, a 28-year-old programmer. “No one is discussing the parliamentary elections right now. It feels very sidelined.” He expressed skepticism regarding the recount, fearing it lacks transparency and might benefit extreme right-wing factions.
A protest on Friday organized by the “Corruption Kills” group called for an independent recount overseen by observers and accused the Constitutional Court of undermining democracy to favor a particular party.
This situation marks a significant point in Romania’s post-communist era, as it’s the first time the leftist Social Democratic Party has failed to present a candidate in a presidential runoff. Following a narrow loss to Lasconi, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu stepped down from leadership of the party. Similarly, Nicolae Ciuca resigned as head of the center-right National Liberal Party after receiving only 8.7% of the vote.
While the Romanian president holds considerable authority over national security and foreign relations, the prime minister oversees the governmental framework. The upcoming parliamentary vote will be vital in determining the composition of the nation’s 466-seat legislature.
“The parliamentary election is far more crucial as it dictates who will truly govern the country,” Ienculescu-Popovici asserted. “We have been seen as one of Europe’s most stable allies, and current events threaten to dismantle that perception.”
Since 2021, Romania’s leading parties, the Social Democrats and the National Liberal Party, have shared a coalition, now feeling the strain amid rising tensions. An ethnic Hungarian party left the coalition last year following disputes over power-sharing.
Similar to other nations in Europe and the U.S., Romania is experiencing heightened anti-incumbency sentiments fueled by inflation, high living costs, a bloated budget deficit, and sluggish economic growth, contributing to the popularity of far-right populist parties.
Recent polls indicate that the leading parties in the upcoming election include the PSD, the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, and the PNL, while the Save Romania Union may rank fourth after experiencing a decline in popularity since its rise on an anti-corruption platform eight years ago.
Various minor parties, such as the pro-EU REPER and the Force of the Right, might not reach the 5% threshold needed to enter parliament, while the far-right nationalist S.O.S Romania party and the little-known Party of Young People, which supports Georgescu, have the potential to surpass it.
Romania’s Energy Minister remarked, “No one saw this coming,” adding that the far-right Alliance gaining power and Georgescu winning the presidency presents a genuine concern for the nation’s political landscape.
In light of the unpredictable first round, political analysts are hesitant to forecast the outcome of the parliamentary vote. Claudiu Tufis, an associate professor at the University of Bucharest, suggested that the election could see a significant anti-establishment turnout favoring far-right populism, potentially capturing 30-40% of the vote and increasing societal polarization.
“The fervor for Georgescu’s victory in the first round emboldens his supporters, who are proud to express their views,” he elaborated. “Dissatisfaction with the current governance has pushed many towards voting for opposition candidates, yet this time, those governing were the major parties themselves.”