Once again, the “wrong” candidate is leading the Romanian presidential rerun. In the first round, the leader of the nationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians George Simion won the first round with a large margin. The politician is called a far-right nationalist, anti-Westernist and isolationist. He is also the successor of Calin Georgescu, the triumphant winner of last year's presidential election in Romania, the results of which were considered “wrong” and eventually canceled. However, “canceling” public opinion is much more difficult. The current rerun is a clear proof of this.
The first round of the presidential election in Romania was held on 4 May. According to the election commission, Simion garnered 40.96% of the vote. The independent candidate, Mayor of Bucharest Nicusor Dang was second with 20.99% of votes. Both politicians advanced into the second round, which is scheduled for 18 May. Unless, of course, it is canceled again.
It is worth noting that the pro-government candidate Crin Antonescu came third in the current rerun and, accordingly, dropped out of the presidential race. The fact that he was nominated by three parties of the ruling coalition - the Social Democratic Party, the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania - did not help the politician either.
For the ruling coalition, Antonescu's result could be a serious blow. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu previously said that the coalition might collapse if its candidate does not win the election. Leader of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania Hunor Kelemen, who promised to withdraw his party from the ruling coalition in case of Antonescu's defeat, also spoke in the same vein.
While gloom and uncertainty reign in the ruling circles, Simion's headquarters are celebrating an interim victory. The triumphant candidate himself has already declared that he dedicates his victory to Calin Georgescu and promised to bring him back to the political arena. “This is not just an electoral victory. It is a victory of Romanian dignity. It is a victory of those who have not lost hope, of those who still believe in Romania, a free, respected, sovereign country,” Simion said.
A reminder, after winning the presidential election on 24 November 2024, Georgescu was accused of manipulating public opinion and illegal financing of his election campaign. The politician was tried to be accused of links with Russia, intelligence services and even Freemasons. However, without evidence. As a result, the Romanian Constitutional Court annulled the election results. In addition, Georgescu was deprived of the opportunity to run for re-election. Such manipulations were welcomed in Brussels that saw Georgescu as another rebel and champion of national interests, like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban or Slovakian Robert Fico. Meanwhile, the Donald Trump Administration called the accusations against Georgescu unconvincing, seeing it as a retreat from Europe's fundamental values.
The first round of the presidential election in Romania was held on 4 May. According to the election commission, Simion garnered 40.96% of the vote. The independent candidate, Mayor of Bucharest Nicusor Dang was second with 20.99% of votes. Both politicians advanced into the second round, which is scheduled for 18 May. Unless, of course, it is canceled again.
It is worth noting that the pro-government candidate Crin Antonescu came third in the current rerun and, accordingly, dropped out of the presidential race. The fact that he was nominated by three parties of the ruling coalition - the Social Democratic Party, the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania - did not help the politician either.
For the ruling coalition, Antonescu's result could be a serious blow. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu previously said that the coalition might collapse if its candidate does not win the election. Leader of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania Hunor Kelemen, who promised to withdraw his party from the ruling coalition in case of Antonescu's defeat, also spoke in the same vein.
While gloom and uncertainty reign in the ruling circles, Simion's headquarters are celebrating an interim victory. The triumphant candidate himself has already declared that he dedicates his victory to Calin Georgescu and promised to bring him back to the political arena. “This is not just an electoral victory. It is a victory of Romanian dignity. It is a victory of those who have not lost hope, of those who still believe in Romania, a free, respected, sovereign country,” Simion said.
A reminder, after winning the presidential election on 24 November 2024, Georgescu was accused of manipulating public opinion and illegal financing of his election campaign. The politician was tried to be accused of links with Russia, intelligence services and even Freemasons. However, without evidence. As a result, the Romanian Constitutional Court annulled the election results. In addition, Georgescu was deprived of the opportunity to run for re-election. Such manipulations were welcomed in Brussels that saw Georgescu as another rebel and champion of national interests, like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban or Slovakian Robert Fico. Meanwhile, the Donald Trump Administration called the accusations against Georgescu unconvincing, seeing it as a retreat from Europe's fundamental values.
Anyway, yesterday's polls got everything clear. It is obvious that the authorities failed to convince the public of Georgescu's guilt. Otherwise, Simion, who is perceived as Georgescu's successor, would hardly have come out on top, having garnered almost twice as many votes as his closest opponent.
The question now is how Brussels will react to the outcome of the vote, given that the war between liberal elites and right-wing forces is gaining momentum. The former still hold power in most European countries and are trying with all their might to uproot the right-wing from the political field. This is what is happening in France, where a month ago one of the country’s most prominent politicians - the leader of the parliamentary faction of the far-right party National Rally Marine Le Pen - was sentenced to imprisonment. There is a similar story in Germany, where the country's most popular party, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AdG), was classified as right-wing extremist last week.
No matter how persistent the liberals are in eradicating opponents, new ones grow up in the place of the “uprooted” in even greater numbers. Activists in Lithuania have recently announced Alternative for Lithuania in support of Germany’s AfD. In the UK, where power is traditionally shared between the Conservatives and Labor, the right-wing party Reform UK won the majority of seats in the 1 May local elections. This result is already being called the collapse of the two-party system in the United Kingdom, reflecting the deep disappointment of citizens with traditional parties that push the state into the abyss of multiple crises.
The same disillusionment and crisis of confidence in traditional political forces can be observed in Romanian society. Voters are trying to find an alternative. Georgescu was such an alternative yesterday. Today it is Simion. In case Simion “is canceled”, someone new will come. If the liberal elites do not change their course, they will be the next in line for “cancelation”. This is true not just about Romania.
Vita Khanatayeva
BelTA
Follow us on:
