Romania after Georgescu's success: what next?
The far-right candidate Călin Georgescu scored a surprise victory in the first round of Romania's presidential elections. He will now go into the runoff on 8 December against the centre-right politician Elena Lasconi. One week before that, the country will elect a new parliament. Commentators examine how outsider Georgescu, who was mostly active on Tiktok before the first round, was able to secure so many votes, and what this means for the country.
Another country in the crossfire
Tvnet sees dangerous consequences for the unity of the EU:
“If a pro-Russian person were to come to power in Romania, it would be a further blow to the political unity of the European Union and thus to its stability because Hungary and Slovakia would be joined by another large and influential like-minded state, which could seriously complicate decision-making on issues such as support for Ukraine. ... Although there is still no clear evidence that the Kremlin was involved in Georgescu's campaign, it is clear that Romania is caught in the same crossfire as Georgia and Moldova. But with more direct repercussions for the European Union.”
Nationalists could be nearing their next victory
The upcoming parliamentary elections could also have a surprising outcome, Jutarnji list points out:
“Romania is in shock. A candidate who came from nowhere, without any party supporting him, without media backing, won the first round of the presidential elections. Călin Georgescu was ignored not only by his opponents, who didn't see him as a threat, but also by most of the national polling institutes, which saw no chance of him making it to the second round. ... The nationalist movement represented by Simion on the one hand and Georgescu on the other received 36 percent of the vote in total. This suggests that the parliamentary elections scheduled for next Sunday could also see surprisingly strong performances for the far right, depending on whom Georgescu's voters support.”
This time the voters will be better informed
Ukrainska Pravda doubts that Georgescu will win the runoff vote:
“A large proportion of those who voted for him were unaware of his views, his political past and his pro-Russian stance, which could backfire in a country where there has been no significant sympathy for Moscow to date. It was precisely Georgescu's lack of presence in the media and his status as an 'independent' that played a key role in his victory in the first round, but this situation is unlikely to be repeated on 8 December. Despite a certain increase in populism in Romanian politics most voters are very likely to favour the pro-European candidate.”
Cyber election campaign bypasses traditional media
Tageblatt explains why pollsters and the media didn't see Georgescu coming:
“For the first time, the fight for votes in the Carpathian state was conducted almost exclusively via social media, in direct contact with voters and for the most part without the moderation of the traditional media. Catchy slogans go down well with an uninformed audience. Content disappears behind the form - and presentation. The election should also be a warning signal for supporters of cyber election campaigns among Central European vote hunters. Romania's shock election has not only drastically demonstrated its possibilities, but also the risks of manipulation.”
Superficiality as the new trend
Tiktok is more convincing than any election programme, says Adevărul:
“The most painful truth is this: Romanians did not vote so massively for Georgescu because they are loyal followers of his doctrinal ideas or because they identify with his policies or his electoral programme, or because they have been his supporters for months or years. Not at all. If you asked these voters to name four or five points from Georgescu's election programme, they would have nothing to say about it. Why? Because they don't know. They simply heard him speak and voted for him. The superficiality of Tiktok is a new trend. Social media convince people - fast, within a few days, without depth. Tiktok is stronger than any educational institution.”
A frightening future
Népszava suspects foreign interference could be behind Georgescu's meteoric ascent:
“It's safe to say that a candidate who has less than one percent support at the beginning of the election campaign and doesn't become much better known during the campaign can't win anywhere in the world without foreign intervention. ... One can only guess which three-letter intelligence service is behind this. The starting point for this could be the fact that Romania is one of the most important eastern bases for Nato and US troops, if not the most important, in the current geopolitical scenario. In any case, this alarming masterpiece foreshadows a frightening future for other elections in Europe.”
Fertile ground for authoritarianism
History provides an explanation for the election result, the Süddeutsche Zeitung puts in:
“Even before the Ceauşescu dictatorship, Romania was far from being a flawless democracy. During the Second World War, the fascist military ruler Ion Antonescu led the country into an alliance with Nazi Germany. Decades of authoritarian continuity have ensured that a liberal democratic culture and party landscape have barely been able to take root, let alone flourish. ... Economic insecurity, a basic feeling of being caught off guard and left behind by the system, and a weak immunity to fake news and propaganda: a movement like that of candidate Georgescu can easily take root on such fertile ground.”
Anti-system parties have wind in their sails
Romania is entering a new political era, Corriere della Sera explains:
“With Georgescu and AUR leader Simion, the far right has received more than a third of the vote. Some are predicting a domino effect in the parliamentary elections next Sunday. This has been a rout for the traditional parties. The Social Democrats [PSD], who as the heirs of the former Communist Party have dominated the country's political life for more than 30 years, were knocked out in the first round for the first time since the fall of communism in 1989. The same fate befell the Liberals of the PNL, with whom they now govern. 'The anti-system parties have wind in their sails. Whether they will be able to ride the wave remains to be seen,' said sociologist Gelu Duminica.”
A breach in Nato's eastern flank?
Gazeta Wyborcza voices concern about Romania's geopolitical orientation:
“Romania's pro-American policy was led by outgoing President Klaus Iohannis of the PNL, the initiator of the so-called Bucharest Nine, which also includes Poland. This group campaigned vigorously for the strengthening of the so-called eastern flank of Nato and the stationing of US troops there. If Georgescu becomes president, this policy could change.”
The result of frustration and poor governance
Spotmedia points to several reasons for Georgescu's victory:
“The frustration of a large part of the population which has been abandoned with its problems, fears and expectations by the established parties. These, of course, vary depending on the level of education and region, but all have been equally ignored. And the immense humiliation caused by the disregard of the shameless President Iohannis. ... Poor governance with major economic consequences is another reason. You can't fool people into believing that prosperity reigns when their situation is steadily deteriorating. Romania has one of the highest inflation rates in the EU, its debt is growing at a rapid pace and it is putting our EU funds at risk. In return, the people are being fed slogans that fill neither their pockets nor their stomachs.”
Acing Tiktok
Călin Georgescu owes his success to social media, Transtelex argues:
“His campaign staff made excellent use of Tiktok's visual format. His videos often included powerful national symbols, such as the Romanian tricolour and images of historical heroes, which added emotional power to his messages. The short, snappy format allowed him to convey his radical views quickly and succinctly. The platform's algorithms favour viral content, especially when it triggers strong emotions. Georgescu's provocative style and sharp political messages fitted this pattern perfectly, and his videos reached millions of viewers.”
Radicalism disguised as moderation
Georgescu apparently also won over voters outside the far-right camp, Index observes:
“Georgescu is known above all for his fierce anti-Nato, anti-EU and pro-Russian stance, while he defends the far-right Legionary Movement that was active between the wars. ... However, because he is far more reserved in his communication, not as shrill as, for example, [his fellow far-right candidates] George Simion or Diana Șoșoacă, it wasn't just far-right supporters who voted for Georgescu. He came across as much more credible than they did as a leader because of his previous experience at the UN.”