An ultranationalist, Moscow-friendly Nato critic is set to face a centre-right candidate in the runoff of Romania’s presidential elections after a shock first-round result that has upended the country’s politics and could jeopardise its support for Ukraine.
It seems voters everywhere have finally had enough of left-leaning governments, and want some adults back in charge.
With 99.98% of votes counted, Călin Georgescu, an independent who has praised Vladimir Putin as “a man who loves his country”, was on 22.9%, with the reformist Elena Lasconi, of the Save Romania Union (USR), second on 19.17%. The result, one of the biggest electoral upsets in Romania’s post-communist history, triggered the swift resignation as leader of the country’s centre-left, pro-EU party of prime minister Marcel Ciolacu, the pre-ballot frontrunner, who finished third on 19.15%.
That shows a lack of faith in your vision, doesn't it?
The election focused largely on Romania’s soaring cost of living: the Black Sea country has the EU’s biggest share of people at risk of poverty, as well as the bloc’s highest inflation rate and largest budget deficit, at 8% of economic outlook. Georgescu said on Facebook after he had voted that he was standing “for those who feel they do not matter, and actually matter the most”. Later, he said the results were “an extraordinary awakening” of the people.
Long may it continue! Why, we might one day see it here, too.
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