Far-Right Candidate Shocks Romania in Presidential Election First Round
In a surprising turn, far-right candidate Calin Georgescu has taken an unexpected lead in Romania's presidential election's first round. With 99% of votes counted, Georgescu secured 23%, ahead of centre-right candidate Elena Lasconi and populist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. Georgescu, who campaigned primarily on TikTok without a party affiliation, dramatically outperformed pre-election polls that initially placed him around 5%. Political analyst Radu Magdin described his surge as unprecedented in Romania's 34-year democratic history. Known for his nationalist rhetoric and "Restore the dignity of the Romanian nation" slogan, Georgescu has been warmly received by Russian media. He previously criticized NATO's missile defense system and was expelled from the far-right AUR party for being too radical, including praising historical fascist movement leaders. The election's second round on December 8 will likely pit Georgescu against Lasconi. Key campaign issues included living costs, with […]