He is described as a pro-Russian right-wing populist who made a name for himself on Tiktok.
With all the votes counted, the controversial Calin Georgescu is through to the final round of the Romanian presidential election.
The result is said to shake the political landscape in the country – and once again raises questions about the Kremlin’s interference in a democratic election in Eastern Europe.
– Our democracies are not equipped for the autocrats’ attacks via Tiktok, X and other platforms, says Johan Fredriksson, foreign reporter at TV4 Nyheterna.
The incumbent Prime Minister of Romania, pro-European Marcel Ciolacu, was tipped as the winner of the presidential election. With over 99 percent of the votes counted, it can be stated that this will not be the case.
Instead, non-party Calin Georgescu went unexpectedly strong and can now target a final duel against Elena Lasconi, mayor of the city of Campulung in central Romania.
– Tonight the Romanian people cried out for peace. And they shouted loudly, very loudly, Georgescu said late on election night.
Missing an own agenda
The 62-year-old’s success has shocked both the political establishment and many voters in the country. A large part of the success has been linked to Georgescu’s presence on social media, and above all on Tiktok. In front of his 1.6 million followers, he has, among other things, visited churches, completed judo sessions and run around an athletics track.
At the same time, it has been described as Georgescu lacking an agenda of his own, where vague formulations about supporting the country’s farmers are mixed with harsh outbursts against NATO.
– The established parties have lost touch with ordinary Romanians. There are no strong leaders, but there are weak candidates from parties that are disconnected from society, says Cristian Andrei, political consultant in Bucharest to The Guardian.
“Putin creates chaos on the EU’s eastern flank”
After the election, Georgescu’s pro-Russian tone has caught the eye and raised questions about possible Russian interference. Just before the election, he launched a campaign aimed at ending support for Ukraine, which runs counter to the country’s current stance. About Putin, he has said that he is “a man who loves his country”.
The electoral success can also be seen in the light of the fact that the Czech Foreign Minister, Jan Lipavsky, went out in October and warned because Russia accounts for 80 percent of all influence campaigns in Europe. Lipavsky then called for more definite targets and means to meet aggressions orchestrated from the Kremlin.
In addition, the elections in Moldova and Georgia have been surrounded by discussions about Russian interference.
– Putin succeeds once again in manipulating an established but fragile democracy and creating chaos on the EU’s eastern flank, says Johan Fredriksson, foreign reporter at TV4 Nyheterna.