Why the Romanian Elections Are a Warning for Central Europe – COMMENTARY

Calin Georgescu’s rise reflects a regional trend of populism, systemic discontent and historical amnesia

27 November 2024

Martin Ehl

Senior Fellow

Far-right candidate Calin Georgescu’s surprise first-round victory in the presidential election highlights a dangerous mix of systemic corruption, disenfranchised voters and historical amnesia. With elections looming in 2025, Romania offers lessons on how such a political shockwave could reverberate across Central Europe.

When Romanian far-right politician Calin Georgescu won the first round of the presidential elections on Sunday, many Romanian and European political commentators were shocked.

A man who openly praises Russian President Vladimir Putin, expresses admiration for Romania’s wartime fascist leaders and questions EU and NATO aid to Ukraine and the presence of US military bases in Romania, has now taken the lead in a country that is one of the US’s key allies in Central Europe after Poland. Moreover, NATO is building its largest base there.

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Martin Ehl

Senior Fellow

Visegrad Insight Senior Fellow. Martin Ehl is the Chief Analyst at Hospodářské noviny (Economic daily)

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