A new president is set to be elected in NATO and European Union (EU) member state Romania on Saturday, and populist, pro-life candidate Calin Georgescu could cause a shock upset. Georgescu is challenging pro-EU globalist Elena Lasconi and seems increasingly likely to win the race.
Georgescu won the election’s first round on November 24, unexpectedly outperforming mainstream candidates. He is an avowed supporter of U.S. President Donald J. Trump, saying he “knows what he wants, he loves his people, he put America first, just like I put Romania first … we have the same ideology.”
Georgescu also describes Russia’s President as “a man who loves his country” and Ukraine as “an invented state,” although he denies being pro-Russian. He says his concern is making Romania “a sovereign and self-sufficient power” and insists, “I am for God and my country, period.”
Opinion polls indicate Georgescu’s support hovers around 60 percent, although approximately 40 percent of voters remain undecided, leaving the exact outcome uncertain. If Georgescu prevails, analysts suggest it could shift Romania’s political landscape towards other central and eastern European nations with populist, anti-war leaders, such as Hungary and Slovakia.
Despite denying aspirations to leave NATO or the EU, Georgescu advocates for autonomous decision-making and has been critical of EU mandates. He is known for social conservativism, opposing both abortion and same-sex marriage.
Over the course of 2024, Europe has seen a wave of populist victories and advances. Populists led many countries in the European Union Parliament elections and won elections in the German region of Thuringia as well as the Austrian national election.
Despite these victories, populist parties have been largely unable to govern, as establishment parties in European countries resist forming coalitions with them.
Jack Montgomery contributed to this report.
