Romania’s 2024 presidential election: A historic political shift

Romania’s 2024 presidential election has delivered an unprecedented political upset, with far-right independent candidate Calin Georgescu emerging as the unexpected frontrunner. Georgescu secured 22.95% of the vote in the first round, a dramatic leap from pre-election polls that placed him below 10%.

According to CNN, this marks a pivotal moment in post-communist Romania, as the Social Democratic Party (PSD) will not advance to the runoff for the first time in history.

Georgescu will now face Elena Lasconi, a reformist candidate from the Save Romania Union (USR), who garnered 19.17% of the votes.

The second-place race was exceptionally tight, with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu trailing by just 0.02 percentage points at 19.15%. The decisive runoff is set for December 8.

With voter turnout at 52.5%, translating to 9.4 million ballots cast, the results signal a seismic shift in Romania’s political landscape. Traditional parties like the PSD and PNL collectively captured just 28% of the vote, underscoring growing public dissatisfaction and the appeal of anti-establishment platforms.

Relatively unknown before the election, Georgescu’s campaign relied heavily on social media, particularly TikTok, to reach younger voters. His nationalist rhetoric, combined with scepticism toward NATO and the European Union, has raised questions about the direction of Romania’s foreign policy should he secure the presidency.

This election represents a turning point in Romania’s political narrative, reflecting voters’ increasing demand for change and highlighting the potential realignment of domestic and international policies.