Pro-Russian Călin Georgescu who sent shockwaves through Romania’s political system to come top in the presidential race is expected to meet Elena Lasconi whose pro-European views stand at the other end of the political spectrum, in a runoff.
The pro-Russia supporter who has sympathies with Romania’s Nazi-allied Legionnaires of the 1930s and 1940s took first place with about 23% of the vote.
| Elena Lasconi,mayor of the town of Campulung-Muscel steadily won votes during the night to come second place with 19.17 % narrowly defeating center-left Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu who won 19.16%. If results are confirmed, it will be the first time in 35 years that the Social Democratic Party has not had a candidate in the runoff. |
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An early exit poll had suggested that Lasconi was set to qualify for the presidential runoff but Georgescu, whose best pre-election ranking was fourth, surged as vote counting continued Sunday night, in a result that is set to upend Romanian politics.
After polls closed, Georgescu called the result “an amazing awakening” of the Romanian people.
Georgescu, fervently religious and nationalistic, ran a campaign in rural areas and TikTok calling for Romania to reduce imports, supporting for farmers and increasing the domestic production of food and energy.
He argues that the EU and NATO do not properly represent Romanian interests and claimed Russia’s war in Ukraine, a Romanian neighbor, is manipulated by American military companies.
He has praised Russian culture and described Putin as “a man who loves his country.” He also admires Hungary he said because it knows how to negotiate internationally.
