After almost all votes were counted, Ciolacu was just behind opposition leader Lasconi on Monday morning. Exit polls put Ciolacu clearly ahead on Sunday afternoon. Although Georgescu won clearly with 22.95 percent, Lasconi got 19.17 percent or 0.02 percentage points more than Ciolacu. The gap was only 2,000 votes, as reported by the Romanian media.
An official announcement from the Romanian election commission about the result was still pending. In a statement at 9 am local (8 am CET), Ciolacu was still clear in second place. Lasconi was able to score points in the extra count among the Romanians abroad. Ciolacu admitted that he was lost on Monday evening. He is already in the process of resigning as party leader. He will remain in office as prime minister until after the parliamentary elections scheduled for next Sunday.
Georgescu ahead with Romanians in Austria
George Simion, chairman of the right-wing populist parliamentary party AUR, came fourth. Georgescu’s victory was unexpected. Polls predicted he would get less than ten percent of the vote. 13 candidates submitted applications to succeed German President Klaus Iohannis, who has been head of state since 2014.
Romania: Right-wing populist and conservatives in runoff election
In Romania, right-wing populist Calin Georgescu and conservative opposition leader Elena Lasconi are likely to enter the runoff election. Social Democratic Prime Minister and favorite Marcel Ciolacu fell to third place after 99.9 percent of the votes were counted.
950 polling stations were set up abroad, including 17 in Austria. The first place in this group of voters went to Georgescu. He received over 49 percent of the vote among eligible voters who live here.
Campaign to end aid to Ukraine
The independent Georgescu carried out his election campaign almost exclusively through social networks and podcasts. In the last few days he has made a name for himself with a TikTok campaign in which he called for an end to aid to Ukraine. He also cast doubt on Romania’s NATO membership. “Tonight the Romanian people cried for peace. And he screamed very loudly, very loudly,” Georgescu said in a Facebook video on Sunday.
In Romania, the president has limited executive function, but that includes control over defense spending. The country shares a 650 kilometer long border with Ukraine, and Romania’s Black Sea coast stretches 150 kilometers from the Ukrainian city of Odessa. 5,000 NATO soldiers are stationed in Romania, and the country plays a significant role in Ukraine’s grain exports.
High inflation
“The far right is the big winner of this election,” political scientist Cristian Pirvulescu told AFP. Observers see the economic climate as one of the main reasons. In 2023 inflation was almost ten percent. This year, inflation weakened, but it is still at 5.5 percent. The cost of living has increased significantly. The country has the highest percentage of people at risk of poverty in the European Union.
“The 35 years of economic uncertainty imposed on the Romanian people is an uncertainty for the political parties today,” Georgescu said in his address on Facebook. During the election campaign, he suggested producing more agricultural and energy goods in the country and reducing imports.
A trial for respected fascists
Georgescu, a qualified agricultural scientist and long-time employee of several United Nations organizations, was briefly in the spotlight in 2022 when the right-wing populist AUR offered him the position of honorary party chairman. But AUR boss Simion fell out with the 62-year-old a little later after his creation of Georgescu’s slogan was too radical even for the right-wing populists of AUR.
Georgescu made a scandal when he praised the people most responsible for the Holocaust in Romania, Marshal Ion Antonescu and the leader of the fascist Iron Guard, Corneliu Zelea-Codreanu. The Attorney General’s Office subsequently opened a criminal investigation against him.
Georgescu relies on a mystical-religious rhetoric, describing himself not as a “seeker” but as a “caller”. In the past he has admired the right-wing nationalist Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban.
Support from other right-wing communities
Despite all the differences in the past, right-wing populist leader AUR Simion asked his supporters to support Georgescu in the run-off election. It is not yet clear whether the Social Democrats will ask for votes for the conservative Lasconi on December 8.
A similar situation existed in the presidential election in 2000: At that time, the social democrat Ion Iliescu and the extremist politician Corneliu Vadim Tudor faced each other in the runoff. The democratic parties came together and prevented the election of the Tudors.
What were the key factors that led to the surprising outcomes in the recent Romanian elections?
Interview: The Future of Romanian Politics After the Recent Elections
Editor (Time.news): Good afternoon and thank you for joining us, Dr. Cristian Pirvulescu, a political scientist and expert in Romanian politics. The recent presidential elections have stirred quite a bit of discussion. To start, can you summarize the main outcomes of the election?
Cristian Pirvulescu: Good afternoon and thank you for having me. Certainly, the recent elections have been quite surprising. Calin Georgescu, running as an independent candidate, emerged as a frontrunner with nearly 23% of the votes, a significant leap from what polls predicted. Elena Lasconi, the conservative opposition leader, managed to secure second place with just over 19%, narrowly defeating the incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who will remain in office until the parliamentary elections next Sunday.
Editor: It’s fascinating how the dynamics shifted, particularly with Ciolacu, the favorite going into the elections, falling to third place. What factors do you think contributed to this change?
Cristian Pirvulescu: Several factors played a crucial role. First, there’s the economic climate: Romania has been grappling with high inflation—around 5.5% currently—though it was even higher last year. The cost of living has surged, and many voters are feeling the pinch, which creates an environment ripe for populist messaging. Georgescu effectively tapped into this sentiment, using social media platforms to promote his agenda and connect with young voters disillusioned by traditional politics.
Editor: Speaking of Georgescu, his campaign tactics were quite unconventional, especially his use of TikTok and social networks. How did this influence voter turnout and engagement?
Cristian Pirvulescu: Georgescu’s approach was revolutionary, particularly for an election in Romania. By leveraging social media—especially appealing to the youth demographic—he framed his campaign around urgent issues like halting aid to Ukraine and questioning Romania’s NATO membership. This resonated deeply with a segment of the population that feels insecure due to both domestic challenges and international pressures. His grassroots strategy helped him secure a significant proportion of votes overseas, particularly among Romanians in Austria, where he topped the polls with over 49%.
Editor: That’s quite significant! The economic aspects surely played into his favor as well. How do you see the economic climate affecting the political landscape moving forward?
Cristian Pirvulescu: The economic challenges are likely to continue shaping Romanian politics. With the country experiencing one of the highest rates of poverty risk within the EU, parties that fail to address economic insecurity may struggle to gain or maintain support. Additionally, the rise of the far-right in this election signals a potential shift in political ideologies affecting traditional parties. The newly empowered leaders will have to focus on tangible economic improvements to maintain public trust.
Editor: It seems like Romania is at a crossroads. What can we expect as the parliamentary elections approach next Sunday?
Cristian Pirvulescu: Expect heightened tensions and vigorous campaigning. With Ciolacu still in prime ministerial power, he will likely try to consolidate support before the elections to mitigate the backlash of his party’s performance. On the other hand, both Georgescu and Lasconi will likely capitalize on the momentum they’ve gained. The results of the parliamentary elections could significantly reshape Romania’s governance and strategic direction, particularly regarding EU relations, the economy, and foreign policy concerning neighboring Ukraine.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Pirvulescu, for this insightful analysis of the election’s implications. It certainly sets the stage for a fascinating political future in Romania as citizens cast their votes again soon.
Cristian Pirvulescu: Thank you for having me. It will indeed be interesting to see how these results are interpreted and acted upon in the coming weeks.