Calin Georgescu, Romania’s right-wing presidential candidate, has stunned the nation by leading the elections with 23% of the vote, a far cry from polls predicting less than 10%. This unexpected victory in the first round of elections held on November 24, 2024, has left journalists and political analysts scrambling to understand his meteoric rise.
Georgescu’s campaign resonated with voters through his sharp criticisms of the European Union and NATO, paired with strong nationalist rhetoric. His strategy, heavily reliant on social media platforms like TikTok, allowed him to reach younger audiences and underrepresented groups often overlooked by traditional campaigns.
Voter turnout stood at 52.4%, with a record-breaking 800,000 overseas Romanians casting ballots, signaling heightened engagement from the diaspora. Despite being dismissed by mainstream media, Georgescu captured a wave of populist sentiment, reflecting broader global trends where right-wing candidates upset establishment expectations.
Georgescu’s rise has set the stage for a high-stakes runoff against reformist candidate Elena Lasconi on December 8, 2024. As political observers dissect his surprising ascent, Romania braces for a showdown that could reshape its political landscape for years to come.
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