Leading contender previously dropped from presidential race now leads polls again
A recent survey indicates that hardline right-wing presidential candidate Calin Georgescu is expected to secure victory in the first round of the upcoming elections in Romania. Read Full Article at RT.com.
Georgescu, known for his criticism of NATO and the EU as well as his strong opposition to aid for Ukraine, received 22.94% in the first round of the November election, outperforming candidates from liberal leftist and social democratic backgrounds. However, the election was quickly annulled by Romania’s Constitutional Court, which cited intelligence documents that alleged 'irregularities' in his campaign.
A survey by pollster Avangarde indicates that Georgescu is not only expected to maintain his lead but may also improve his performance from the previous election, with projections suggesting he could obtain 38% of the vote, up from approximately 23%. Following Georgescu in the poll is Crin Antonescu, anticipated to be the single candidate for the pro-EU coalition government, projected to receive around 25%. Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, who has hinted at running as an independent, is estimated to garner support from about 17% of respondents.
The question of whether Georgescu will be allowed to run again in the May elections remains uncertain. His unexpected November victory led to significant political upheaval in Romania, bringing forth numerous allegations against the right-wing hardliner. The 62-year-old candidate primarily used TikTok for his campaign and faced suspicions that foreign entities, presumably from Russia, were funding his efforts.
However, none of these allegations have been substantiated with solid evidence. Preliminary investigations into the election scandal suggested that the claims of campaign 'irregularities' were likely a psychological operation financed by the pro-Western National Liberal Party.
On Tuesday, the European Court of Human Rights dismissed Georgescu's appeal, in which he sought to reverse the domestic court's decision that annulled the election results, ruling that the matter was outside its jurisdiction.
Emily Johnson for TROIB News