Călin Georgescu is the surprising winner of the first round of Romania’s presidential elections held on November 24th, 2024.
Emerging seemingly out of nowhere, Călin Georgescu shocked political parties, analysts, and a large portion of Romania’s population by achieving an excellent and completely unexpected result in the elections.
But who is Călin Georgescu?
A former member of the extremist party AUR, he ran for president as an independent, with a strong rhetoric that is anti-globalist, anti-Western Europe, anti-NATO, anti-war, and anti-vaccine. He is a nationalist with a populist, pro-legionary, pro-church message that resounded well with the Romanian audience.
Curious about his opponent? Check out my new article answering the question: Who is Elena Lasconi?
Călin Georgescu managed to cause one of the biggest surprises in Romania’s democratic history (most pre-election polls gave him a maximum of 5% of the votes, but most didn’t even mention him).
He campaigned almost exclusively online, with the social media platform TikTok being his main focus (but also other online platforms including Facebook and Youtube).
He flew under the radar of political parties, politicians, and analysts, but not under the radar of who matters the most when elections are involved: the people themselves.
Why did Călin Georgescu get so many votes?
Călin Georgescu secured almost 23% of the votes in the first round, far ahead of expectations.
Calin Georgescu is the clear and surprising winner of the first round of Romania’s presidential elections, with almost 23% of the votes. Meanwhile, the race for second place is not over, with Marcel Ciolacu of PSD (19.17%) and Elena Lasconi of USR (19.16%) separated by fewer than 1,000 votes.
But how did Georgescu manage to become the shocking winner of the elections? He grew in popularity in recent weeks following a smart and aggressive TikTok campaign that aligned well with the audience.
His short, targeted videos blending nationalist, deeply religious rhetoric with anti-establishment themes were perfect for the frustrations of voters of all ages, both in Romania and abroad.
While most people expected another far-right candidate, George Simion from the AUR political party to reach the second round of the presidential elections (with Marcel Ciolacu), a few last-minute scandals and revelations probably changed the opinion of many voters.
First, there were reports that Ciolacu’s political party PSD was trying to help extremist George Simion reach the second round of the elections for an easy win (similar to the 2000 elections where extremist Corneliu Vadim Tudor faced PSD’s Ion Iliescu).
Second, Georgescu was required by the officials to remove all his videos from online platforms because of some technicalities, turning him into the perfect victim in the eyes of the public.
Other smaller things, including the denial by the officials for another far-right extremist, Diana Sosoaca to run for the presidency, and various other scandals helped Călin Georgescu grow tremendously, especially since no dirt was thrown his way, mainly because he was completely under the radar.
While I have to admit that I hadn’t even heard about him until very recently, I have to admit that his TikTok videos are very well done and flawlessly created to resonate with his target audience. The man is obviously smart and leaves a solid impression, which also helps in today’s video-powered world.
Finally, the truth is that this year’s candidates were very, very weak and it was difficult to find one that was at least passable. Călin Georgescu was the right person, at the right time, in the right spot. And he produced one of the biggest earthquakes in Romania’s politics.
More things about Călin Georgescu
I left the more regular details about him last, but if you want to fully go through his CV and better understand who Călin Georgescu is, you can do so now.
Born on March 26, 1962, in Bucharest, Georgescu graduated from the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine and holds a doctorate in pedology (the study of soil composition). He has also completed postgraduate studies in national security and defense.
Professional Career
Despite being relatively unknown, Georgescu has been involved in politics for most of his life, holding important positions both in Romania and internationally:
- Served as an advisor to the Minister of the Environment and Secretary-General in the ministry between 1997-1998.
- Worked for 17 years at the United Nations in the field of environmental conservation.
- Acted as the executive director of the National Center for Sustainable Development, coordinating Romania’s national strategies for sustainable development in 1999 and 2008.
He was also rumored to be a potential candidate for the role of Prime Minister during Traian Basescu’s presidency in the early 2000s, and was also presented as the upcoming Prime Minister of the country while he was still a member of the extremist party AUR.
However, he later distanced himself from the party, accusing its leader George Simion of ties to the Social Democratic Party (PSD). Despite being named honorary president of AUR in 2022, Georgescu’s association with the party dissolved after further internal conflicts.
Controversial Views and Statements
A far-right nationalist with extremist views, Călin Georgescu goes in line with the growing trend of nationalism that’s taking over Europe and some other parts of the world. Here are some of his most important views and statements:
He has openly praised controversial historical figures such as Ion Antonescu, who was executed for his role in the Holocaust in Romania, and Corneliu Zelea Codreanu, leader of the antisemitic Legionnaire movement. Georgescu described them as “national heroes” alongside other prominent Romanian figures.
His statements have resulted in a criminal investigation by the General Prosecutor’s Office for promoting the cult of individuals guilty of genocide and war crimes and for advancing fascist and Legionnaire ideologies.
He has publicly criticized the European Union, calling it a “failed project” and “a sham imposed on captive societies.” He also criticized NATO, labeling its missile defense system in Deveselu a “diplomatic disgrace” and questioning its commitment to defending member states against potential Russian aggression.
Georgescu has referred to “Russian wisdom” as Romania’s best chance for strategic and diplomatic stability but has refused to clarify whether he explicitly supports Russia and Vladimir Putin.
Wrapping up
It is clear to me that Romanians have not only voted against the system (as they usually had to do in the past several elections) and against the PSD/PNL ruling parties, but this time they also voted for the extremist messages, for the nationalism and the anti-EU rhetoric that is becoming more and more popular throughout Europe.
Regardless of the second-round outcome, Georgescu’s campaign has undeniably reshaped the Romanian political landscape, signaling not just an otherwise expected shift in voter priorities, but the power of digital platforms in modern elections and specifically the outdated approaches of major political parties.
No matter who Călin Georgescu meets in the second round of the presidential elections in Romania (either Marcel Ciolacu or Elena Lasconi), he obviously has huge chances of becoming Romania’s next president, providing a bigger shock than Trump’s victory in the US (even though with a smaller impact on a global scale).
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Again, thank you for explaining who is the new president. Let’s see if he improves the quality of life of Romanian people. And he recovers the goods and industries that the country sold for two pennies. Romanian people have a lot to offer, and I think it’s time for you to shine. I am not saying I support him, just that I expect Romanian people receive what they deserve. You have a marvelous country, and after two years living here, I feel injustice and no-sense. A country full of natural resources, good people… You deserve a good life, good salaries, decent health system, safe roads…
Calin Georgescu is not Romania’s new president. Even though he won the first round of the elections, there’s still a second round to be held, where he will face just one candidate, Elena Lasconi. One of the two will become Romania’s next president (and I’ll keep everybody updated on how things turn out).