Romanian Politics: Considerations on Calin Georgescu, the Surprising Winner of the First Round of the Presidential Election

Election Results (with 99.98% of ballots counted, source AEP)

•  Calin Georgescu (Independent): 22.95%
•  Elena Lasconi (USR): 19.17%
•  Marcel Ciolacu (PSD): 19.15%
•  George Simion (AUR): 13.87%
•  Nicolae Ciuca (PNL): 8.79%

Calin Georgescu, an independent candidate, emerged as the unexpected leader in Romania’s presidential election first round. Despite predictions placing him far behind, Georgescu claimed 22.94% of the vote. He will now face pro-Western, center-right candidate Elena Lasconi in a runoff on December 8. The outcome is particularly surprising as Georgescu surpassed Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu of the Social Democratic Party, a first in Romania's post-communist history, leaving the ruling party without a candidate in the second round.

General Data on the Election

• Turnout: Voter turnout was 51%, consistent with the figure from five years ago.
• Diaspora: Over 800,000 Romanians living abroad participated, marking a record high.
• Upcoming Events: Romania will hold its parliamentary elections on December 1, prior to the presidential runoff.

Who is Calin Georgescu?

 Wikipedia Page of Călin Georgescu

Calin Georgescu, 62, is an independent candidate with a history of far-right leanings. He previously held positions in Romania’s environment ministry and represented Romania in the UN Environment Program from 1999 to 2012. Georgescu has been criticized for his pro-Russian stance, anti-NATO sentiments, and controversial statements about historical Romanian figures. He has also praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and made dismissive comments about Ukraine.

Georgescu was once part of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) but left the party in 2022 due to internal conflicts. His political views are aligned with nationalism and conservatism, often citing support for the  Romanian Orthodox Church. Despite his past controversies, Georgescu’s surprising success has been attributed to his social media presence, particularly on TikTok, where he gained significant attention in the weeks leading up to the election.

The Electoral Process in Romania

The Romanian president is elected through a two-round system. If no candidate achieves more than 50% in the first round, a runoff is held between the top two candidates. The president holds significant powers, including oversight of foreign and defense policy and the authority to appoint the prime minister. This electoral process, alongside Romania’s ongoing political shifts, positions the presidential race as a key moment in the country’s political future.

The following IPSEs related to the context Romanian Politics: Considerations on Calin Georgescu, the Surprising Winner of the First Round of the Presidential Election are presented in chronological order based on when the IPSEs have been pronounced.