Surprising Presidential Election Results as Romanian Hard-Right Critic Gains Momentum

Calin Georgescu, a Romanian politician known for his hard-right views and criticism of NATO, has made a surprising appearance alongside leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu following the first round of presidential elections. Partial tallies from the elections on Sunday indicated an unexpected result that could potentially challenge Romania‘s traditionally strong pro-Ukraine policies.

Georgescu’s rise in the presidential race contradicts pre-election expectations, where opinion surveys showed him polling in the single digits. An independent candidate, Georgescu previously held membership with the Alliance for Uniting Romanians (AUR), a far-right political group that once endorsed him as their preferred candidate for prime minister. However, he parted ways with the AUR in 2022 after concerns arose among senior members about his pro-Russian, anti-NATO rhetoric, which they believed tarnished the party’s image.

During a 2021 interview, Georgescu was notably critical of NATO’s ballistic missile defense shield in Romania’s Deveselu, describing it as «a shame of diplomacy» and asserting that the North Atlantic alliance would fail to defend its members in the event of a Russian attack. Moreover, he has made controversial statements regarding Ion Antonescu and Corneliu Zelea Codreanu, figures associated with Romania’s fascist past, referring to them as national heroes. Antonescu was executed for his role in Romania’s Holocaust, while Codreanu led the Iron Guard, a violently anti-Semitic movement.

Georgescu has suggested that Romania’s diplomatic and strategic future could benefit from «Russian wisdom,» although he has not explicitly declared his support for Russia. His remarks have sparked considerable debate regarding Romania’s foreign policy direction.

Earlier polling data by Inscop indicated Georgescu’s low popularity, placing him under «other» with less than 0.4% support. However, recent figures have shown his support increased to 5.4%, placing him in the sixth position.

The leader of AUR, George Simion, expressed support for Georgescu by congratulating him and stating he would endorse «anyone who isn’t Marcel Ciolacu» in the upcoming second round of elections.

The unexpected development in the presidential race was documented by Bucharest-based journalist Luiza Ilie, with editing by Lincoln Feast, in a report for Thomson Reuters, which adheres to its rigorous standards of editorial integrity.