Calin Georgescu – who opposes arming and funding Ukraine – surges to surprising lead, stunning mainstream candidates in the presidential vote
Romanian nationalist Calin Georgescu has surprised observers by likely topping the first round of the country’s presidential election, according to provisional results.
With more than 80 percent of ballots counted, in the early hours of Monday Georgescu, who has gained traction for his anti-Ukraine war stance, holds 22.1 percent of the vote, narrowly ahead of sitting Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who follows with just over 22 percent.
Georgescu, an ultra-religious and nationalist figure, has campaigned on reducing Romania’s reliance on imports and boosting domestic food and energy production. He has been a vocal critic of Bucharest’s role in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, arguing that NATO and the EU do not represent Romanian interests and suggesting that the war is being manipulated by American…
