ROMANIA: Călin Georgescu’s Surprising Rise and Russian Influence

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On November 24, 2024, Romanians headed to the polls to elect the country’s next president. In a shocking twist, Călin Georgescu emerged as the winner with a commanding 22.94% of the votes. Trailing behind him were Elena Lasconi with 19.18% and Ion Ciolacu with 19.15%. Notably, only a few thousand votes separated the second and third places, highlighting how close the race was beyond Georgescu's unexpected victory. His win was both a surprise and a shock to many. 

In this blog post, we’ll dive into who Călin Georgescu is, how this election unfolded to give rise to a "TikTok star" victory, and what his presidency could mean for Romania's future.

Before we continue, I want to make it clear that this topic is deeply personal to me as a Romanian. My goal is to advocate for democracy, freedom, and a stable economy for our country. I am painfully aware of the hardships Romania has endured under corrupt governments. However—and this is a critical point—the solution is not a pro-Russian, religious zealot who opposes NATO and the EU. 

I didn’t grow up in communist Romania, but I’ve heard enough stories from my family to understand the weight of those dark times. It’s not a reality I wish upon this generation or the next. Democracy, freedom, and liberty are precious, and losing them would come at a devastating cost. We cannot afford to sell these values so cheaply to the first liar who promises us change. Unfortunately, Călin Georgescu is one of the biggest deceivers we’ve encountered.

Read on to discover why I hold this view and what lies ahead for Romania. 


WHO IS CALIN GEORGESCU?

Călin Georgescu was born on March 26, 1962, in Bucharest, Romania. Coming from a family deeply involved in agriculture, his father, Scarlat Georgescu, was an agricultural engineer, while his mother worked as a secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture. Following in his family’s footsteps, Georgescu pursued a career in agriculture, graduating from the Agricultural Institute "Nicolae Bălcescu" in Bucharest in 1986. He later earned a doctorate in pedology, the study of soils, in 1999 from the same institution, which had since been renamed the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine.

Georgescu began his career in 1986 as an engineer specializing in soil erosion and land improvement research. By the 1990s, he transitioned to public administration, serving as an advisor to Romania's Minister of Environment and holding numerous significant roles over the subsequent three decades. His expertise in agriculture and sustainable development enabled him to play a prominent role in shaping policy at both national and international levels. Notably, he coordinated Romania’s National Sustainable Development Strategies in 1999 and 2008, aligning them with European Union objectives. From 2010 to 2012, he served as the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights implications of toxic waste. In 2013, he was appointed President of the Club of Rome’s European Support Centre, a prominent international think tank. Currently, he lectures on sustainable development at the National University of Science and Technology Polytechnic Bucharest.

While Georgescu has maintained a long-standing presence in Romanian politics and public administration since the fall of communism, his career has been marked by controversy. Between 2010 and 2021, he was frequently proposed as a candidate for the role of Prime Minister, receiving support from the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR). However, his public admiration for authoritarian figures and the interwar Legionnaire movement has led to accusations of extremism and antisemitism, sparking widespread criticism and even a criminal investigation. 

Georgescu is a prominent and outspoken critic of NATO and the European Union, arguing that their influence undermines national sovereignty. He is a staunch supporter of  future U.S. President Donald Trump and a vocal opponent of the war in Ukraine, which he claims is an artificially created conflict driven by the interests of the American military-industrial complex, seeking to profit from arms sales. In a highly controversial statement, he referred to Ukraine as an "invented state."

His 2024 presidential campaign has further fuelled his notoriety. Primarily conducted via TikTok, the campaign has garnered significant attention due to concerns over financial transparency and allegations of bot-generated activity, following a sharp increase in online engagement. Despite repeated claims of foreign influence, Georgescu continues to assert his political independence. However, his polarizing rhetoric has solidified his status as one of Romania's most controversial and divisive political figures.

Călin Georgescu (photo credit: calingeorgescupresedinte.ro)

HIS TIKTOK CAMPAIGN 

Călin Georgescu, a prominent name in Romanian politics, unexpectedly clinched victory in the first round of the Presidential elections, a surprising outcome given his status as an independent candidate with initially low public support.

Investigative journalists have closely scrutinized Georgescu's social media activity, uncovering a calculated strategy behind his sudden rise. His content was amplified by a mix of genuine and troll accounts, propelling it to viral status. In early November, his TikTok following skyrocketed from 500,000 to 800,000 in just a few weeks. Simultaneously, social media platforms were flooded with the hashtag #VoteCălinGeorgescu, encouraging users to vote for him.

Adding to the momentum, social media influencers began creating videos that praised Georgescu, often echoing right-wing rhetoric reminiscent of the Trump campaign. Georgescu himself is an articulate speaker, championing a populist agenda and addressing issues resonating deeply with voters: youth drug abuse, poverty, and the emigration of Romanians in search of work abroad. He also stirred controversy by criticizing the Romanian government’s financial support for Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees, claiming that Romanians are being neglected in the process.

Despite his appeal, many of Georgescu’s statements are blatantly populist, often irrelevant to presidential duties, and sometimes factually incorrect. However, the relentless promotion of his content ensured it stuck in voters' minds, regardless of its validity.

Georgescu insists that his campaign relied on minimal funding, denying any significant expenditures. Yet this claim raises serious questions. How were the social media influencers compensated for their endorsements? Who financed and coordinated the creation of troll accounts and the extensive posting activity that boosted his content? Such efforts require substantial resources, yet Georgescu has evaded these inquiries, leaving a cloud of mystery surrounding the true source of his campaign’s success.

Based on what I can observe, this situation mirrors the patterns seen in Moldova and Georgia. If we draw a comparison, this campaign aligns closely with Russia's playbook for manipulating elections. It's the same strategy employed in 2016 by the notorious Internet Research Agency from St. Petersburg, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin. A similar approach was also evident in the 2024 U.S. elections.

HOW DID HE END UP WITH THE 2 MILLION VOTES?

Continuing from the points above, it's clear that many Romanians are deeply disillusioned with their government—a sentiment I've heard repeatedly since childhood. The complaints are always the same: politicians lie, they’re corrupt, they misuse state funds for personal gain, and they prioritize the wealth of their families and friends over the needs of the people. This frustration reached a boiling point during the election, where many voters, angry and unsure of whom to support, found themselves gravitating toward a name they recognized: Călin Georgescu. They vaguely remembered him saying something patriotic, he spoke well, and that was enough for their vote. Now, many are regretting that decision.

Only now are people beginning to understand the implications of accusations that Georgescu is a legionnaire or even a fascist. Social media, particularly Instagram, is already brimming with memes from young creators joking that Romania has been transported back to 1947 or communist times. "Time to learn Russian," they quip.

It might be funny—if it weren’t so alarming. But this is the reality we’re facing.

As we can see, he won by a decent majority of the votes (credit)
 
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE FUTURE?

He was mostly voted for because many people failed to do their due diligence in researching the candidates, instead opting for a careless protest vote. This lack of knowledge, fuelled by spontaneous anger, could result in Romania’s democracy being sold for a fraction of its true value. Our democracy was hard-won in the 1989 revolution, through the sweat, blood, and tears of those who fought for it. We may not return to communism, but fascism and a loss of rights could very well take its place.

I won’t speculate on what his election as President of Romania would mean—that’s a topic for another post. What I will say is this: we have two weeks. Two weeks to research who Călin Georgescu is and what he truly stands for. Two weeks to come to terms with the possibility of Romania having a female president, someone with an unconventional family that defies traditional values. I will write separately about Elena Lasconi as well.

I know Lasconi isn’t universally popular, and she might not even be the ideal candidate. But the country has spoken, and there is only one candidate who is pro-Western, pro-European, and pro-NATO. That is the candidate we must support.

I urge everyone who has a vote to get out and vote. Don’t stay home. Don’t be lazy. Don’t cast a protest vote. Your indifference, carelessness, and complacency could cost you your freedom, democracy, and the chance to live in a Western country. Look at Russia. Look at Hungary. Is that the direction we want for Romania? Don’t fall for Călin Georgescu’s lies.

CONCLUSION 

In conclusion, Călin Georgescu’s unexpected win in the first round of the Presidential elections is a shock. But it’s not too late to change the course. We still have the opportunity to choose democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. We have the chance to distance ourselves from Russian influence and stand up to Putin, telling him we don’t want his kind in our country. The question is: What will you choose?

I’ll tell you what I choose. I will always choose freedom, democracy, and the chance to live in a progressive, Westernized society over a future aligned with terrorists and killers. Communist and fascist dictators belong in the past, not in our future. Not in the future of our children, and not in my lifetime. I was born after communism, and I hope to die without ever knowing the oppression of the Iron Curtain.

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