In a turn of events that could challenge Romania’s unwavering support for Ukraine, the nation is heading toward an unexpected presidential run-off on December 8. This contest pits a hard-right critic of NATO against the leader of a centre-right opposition party. As the results pour in, the landscape of Romanian politics may be on the cusp of a significant shift.
With nearly all votes tallied—99.9% to be exact—Calin Georgescu, the hard-right candidate, secured 22.9% of the votes, while his centre-right rival, Elena Lasconi, trailed closely behind with 19.16%. Surprisingly, Lasconi managed to surpass leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who was initially perceived as a frontrunner. This shift can be attributed to a robust backing from Romanian citizens living abroad, a group that played a crucial role in influencing the results.
The President of Romania wields considerable power, particularly in the realm of defense spending. It’s a role that could become increasingly complex as Romania seeks to maintain its commitments amid NATO’s expectations while grappling with its own substantial budget deficit.
Reflecting on this startling result, political analyst Radu Magdin remarked, “We have never witnessed such an unprecedented leap in voter support since the fall of communism in 1989.” His observation emphasizes the unusual and surprising nature of these election outcomes.
Issues like the rising cost of living took center stage during the campaign. Romania currently faces the dubious honor of having the highest percentage of people at risk of poverty in the EU. Ciolacu sought to woo voters with pledges of increased spending and no tax hikes, all while navigating the European Union’s largest budget deficit, tallying at a staggering 8% of the national economic outlook. He promised stability during turbulent times, given the ongoing war in Ukraine that lies just beyond Romania’s border.
Calin Georgescu, once associated with the hard-right Alliance for Uniting Romanians party, has not shied away from expressing his controversial views. He has labeled NATO’s ballistic missile defense system in Deveselu as a “diplomatic disgrace” and has openly questioned the alliance’s ability to defend its members against potential Russian aggression.
In contrast, Elena Lasconi champions the idea of bolstering defense expenditures and continuing to provide assistance to Ukraine. “We are resilient and courageous, and many of us turned out to vote; even more will join us in the second round,” she asserted in a recent statement as she stood resiliently in the heart of Bucharest.
A former journalist turned politician, Lasconi joined the Save Romania Union (USR) in 2018 and took the reins of the party this year. With her experience as a two-term mayor, she is committed to advocating for higher defense budgets and steadfastly supporting Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict.
Romania shares a 650-kilometer border with Ukraine. Since the onset of hostilities in 2022, Romania has played a vital role in facilitating the export of vast quantities of grain through its Black Sea port of Constanta and has delivered military aid, including a Patriot air defense battery.
While the border region has experienced a surge of drone activity, resulting in disturbing infringements upon Romanian airspace, there have been no reported casualties. This tense boundary underscores the precarious situation Romania finds itself in, straddling the line between diplomacy and defense.
Some analysts suggest that potential Russian interference cannot be entirely dismissed in the context of Georgescu’s campaign. “Given Georgescu’s stance regarding Ukraine and the striking disparity between pre-election polls and the final verdict, such speculation remains valid,” argued Sergiu Miscoiu, a political science instructor at Babes-Bolyai University.
The outgoing president, Klaus Iohannis, aged 65, has been a steadfast advocate of Romania’s pro-Western orientation, though criticism has circulated regarding his effectiveness in combatting corruption. The results of yesterday’s election have sent shockwaves through the political landscape, marking one of the most surprising outcomes in Romania’s post-communist electoral history. Notably, the leaders of the two largest parties—the left-leaning Social Democrats and the centre-right Liberals, who currently share a governing coalition—found themselves eliminated in the first round of voting.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
