Making sense of the Romanian elections

• Department of Political and Social Sciences

This session of the International Relations Working Group brings together a diverse panel of experts for a discussion on the Romanian elections.

The first round of Romania's presidential election left many aghast. Against all estimations, far-right independent candidate Calin Georgescu emerged as the frontrunner seemingly overnight. Public reaction to his meteoric rise has been deeply divided. While many were left wondering who he is, the online celebrations of his voters have taken on almost messianic dimensions, mirroring the discourse mobilized in Georgescu’s TikTok-centric campaign.

To understand this phenomenon and its implications, the International Relations Working Group has assembled a panel with diverse expertise, to examine the factors that contributed to the rise of a politician with limited political support, no overt funding sources, and explicit ideological leanings toward both extremes of the political spectrum. We will also explore the broader implications of his success, not only for Romania but for the wider socio-political landscape, including its geopolitical implications for South East Europe, NATO, and the EU, and for wider electoral trends throughout the developed world.