Romania held parliamentary elections on Sunday, with about 9.4 million people voting in a turnout of over 52% of eligible voters. The country is experiencing unprecedented turmoil following allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference in the presidential race. Calin Georgescu, a controversial far-right populist who won the most votes, will face reformist Elena Lasconi of the Save Romania Union party in a Dec. 8 runoff.
Georgescu’s TikTok exposure has raised questions about his sudden rise to popularity on social media, which many attribute to Russian interference. The Kremlin denies any involvement. Nightly protests throughout Romania oppose Georgescu due to past remarks praising Romanian fascist leaders and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The presidential outcome indicates a shift towards far-right populist parties in Romania, which have found fertile ground amid high inflation, high cost of living, and a sluggish economy. Observers believe this trend may be mirrored across Europe.
Romania’s top defense body stated that “a presidential candidate benefited from massive exposure due to preferential treatment” granted by TikTok. The Constitutional Court requested a recount of all votes after a complaint alleging electoral law violations.
The outcome of the parliamentary election is seen as crucial, with far-right parties possibly obtaining record highs. Political leaders stress that it’s a high-stakes election, with incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu saying Romanians must choose between stability and chaos.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/romania-election-europe-far-right-da223dff415a0fa333bea0b1ccdb0adb