The unexpected victory of far-right leader Calin Georgescu in the first round of the Romania’s presidential election has sparked a debate about the level of Russian influence in the country.
ADVERTISEMENTRomania has never been pro-Russian and politicians backed by Russia rarely present themselves as such, Romanian centre-right MEP Siegfried Muresan told Radio Schuman in today’s episode.
Muresan said this applied to Calin Georgescu, the little-known far-right populist and TikTok personality who unexpectedly won the first round of Romania’s presidential election, adding that he had put forth an ”anti-European stance, seeking to undermine Europe, its values, and the rule of law.”
Georgescu was projected to secure less than 10% of the vote. He will now face liberal candidate Elena Lasconi in a December 8 run-off—unless Romania’s criminal court intervenes to annul the second round of elections.
This election outcome highlights a broader regional trend, with Romania potentially joining countries like Georgia and Moldova in pivotal political battles between democratic, pro-Western values and nationalist, pro-Moscow forces. The stakes are particularly high for Romania, an EU member that shares a border with Ukraine and serves as a key NATO military base.
Questions remain about Georgescu’s unexpected success, Romania’s ties to Russia, and how pro-EU forces in Bucharest and Brussels plan to counter his rise if the runoff proceeds.
In the second segment of this program, we take a brief look at the latest polls for today’s Irish election.
Radio Schuman also explores the underlying causes of mental health conditions among workers in certain European countries.
Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by Zacharia Vigneron, Georgios Leivaditis and Brodheim, David. Music by Alexandre Jas.