Romania's Presidential Runoff: A Battle for Europe Amidst Russian Influence
Voting has commenced abroad in Romania's presidential runoff, widely regarded as a pivotal referendum on the country's future within NATO and the EU. Accusations of Russian interference have sparked protests, galvanizing thousands of Romanians who took to the streets to affirm the nation’s commitment to the Euro-Atlantic community.
The unexpected first-round victory of Calin Georgescu, a candidate favored by the far-right and seen as friendly to Russian interests, sent shockwaves through the Western world. Evidence has surfaced of a significant, Moscow-orchestrated cybercampaign conducted on TikTok, which largely escaped the attention of Romanian authorities.
Georgescu now faces pro-European centrist candidate Elena Lasconi in the runoff scheduled for December 8. In an effort to avoid the long voting lines that have plagued previous elections at Romanian diplomatic missions abroad, authorities extended voting for the large Romanian diaspora to two and a half days.
Despite early assumptions that Georgescu would win the runoff, a recent opinion poll has shown that Lasconi has overtaken him. According to the AtlasIntel poll published on December 5, Lasconi—a former TV presenter and the current mayor of the small city of Campulung—holds a slim 2 percent lead over Georgescu, within the poll's margin of error.
Georgescu's initial success in the first round instigated fears among younger Romanians for the future of democracy in the nation, prompting demonstrations. On December 5, approximately 3,000 people protested in Bucharest, advocating for Romania to preserve its pro-European trajectory. The crowd gathered at the University Square, chanting slogans like "Freedom" and "Europe."
Activists, including the celebrated poet Ana Blandiana and renowned actors, participated in the rally organized by the group Romania Spera (Romania Hopes). Blandiana, who faced repression under Romania's communist regime, emphasized that this election transcends a mere vote. "This ballot is a true referendum: Yes for Europe or no for the past that I came out of 35 years ago," she proclaimed.
Veteran Romanian actor Victor Rebengiuc also strongly endorsed Lasconi, stating, "I call on you to choose Lasconi; a detour through Campulung is closer than one through Moscow" in remarks aimed at the predominantly young audience.
Actor Serban Pavlu, who has appeared in both Romanian and Western films, expressed that Romania cannot live in fear of Russian aggression over three decades after the revolution that deposed the communist dictatorship. He spoke of the audacity needed to ensure a secure future: "We cannot fear that the Russians will come after us."
These sentiments resonated throughout the crowd as actress Oana Pellea reinforced that the only way forward for Romanians is a commitment to freedom, suggesting that without it, "We might end up spending our holidays in Russia in St. Petersburg."
History professor Marcel Bartic addressed the audience, calling on them to articulate their opposition to fascism. "We are here to remind our compatriots that Romania says no to extremists, to fascism. We want Europe, European values, and we are not afraid to say it," Bartic stated.
The Call for Action by Romania Spera on Facebook declared that the nation finds itself at a decisive crossroads since the 1989 revolution, emphasizing the fruits of hard-fought democracy. The organization noted a long and difficult journey since then, marked by setbacks but also significant achievements, including the right to travel, work, and study in Europe along with NATO membership.
The statement underscored core tenets shared by many Romanians: human dignity, freedom, equality, solidarity, citizen rights, and justice.
In a show of solidarity, Moldovan President Maia Sandu traveled to Romania on December 5 to meet with Lasconi. Sandu highlighted the historical ties between Moldova and Romania, noting that Moldova, which has recently initiated accession talks with the EU, looks toward Romania as a model for European integration and development.
"We Moldovans have always looked toward Romania with admiration. For us, Romania has always been a model to follow; that’s why we also want to be part of the European Union, but we need your help," Sandu communicated to Lasconi.
With the winds of change sweeping through Romania yet again, the stakes could not be higher as the nation heads toward a potential turning point in its political landscape.
Related Sources: