A former soil scientist, Călin Georgescu, who gained fame on TikTok, is on the brink of being elected as Romania’s president this weekend.
In an interview with Sky News, the populist candidate dismissed allegations that his rapid rise to prominence was orchestrated by Russia, despite critics suggesting ties to Vladimir Putin. Georgescu stated, “no, nothing zero,” and characterized Putin as “a patriot and a leader” while asserting he does not support him.
Georgescu, who is 62 years old and holds a doctorate in pedology, previously worked in Romania’s environment ministry and represented the country at the UN Environment Programme. He joined the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) party but left in 2022 amid internal conflicts and accusations of being pro-Russian and critical of NATO. Now an independent candidate, he surged from obscurity to win the first round of Romania’s presidential election, leveraging a combination of populist rhetoric and a robust social media campaign, especially on TikTok.
As he heads into the final runoff against Elena Lasconi from the centre-right Save Romania Union party, Georgescu expressed confidence in his victory and his vision for restoring Romania as a “sovereign country.” Romanian authorities have suggested that Russia may have launched a “hybrid attack” to amplify his campaign slogans across social media platforms.
When questioned about calls for an investigation into his campaign activities, Georgescu laughed off the concerns, claiming that “the last Soros Fortress has fallen,” referencing conspiracy theories surrounding George Soros that are prevalent among right-wing populists. He criticized his opponents for their inability to accept that their tactics were ineffective.
Georgescu also refuted allegations regarding campaign spending, insisting he spent nothing despite claims from Romania’s secret police suggesting expenditures of around one million euros. He has previously expressed admiration for Romanian leaders during World War II who collaborated with Nazis but denied being antisemitic, calling Israel “a fantastic country.”
Admiring Donald Trump, Georgescu indicated he would follow the incoming U.S. president’s lead on peace talks in Ukraine and expressed skepticism about climate change, asserting that while climate change exists, it is not caused by human actions. On LGBTQ+ rights, he stated he would pursue laws against LGBT+ “propaganda,” echoing similar legislation in Russia and Hungary.
Dismissing concerns over COVID-19, Georgescu claimed he does not believe in the virus’s existence and emphasized individual choice regarding vaccination without coercion. He expressed a desire for closer ties with Britain, citing his time studying sustainable development in Bristol and envisioning strong cooperation between Romania and the UK.
Despite his rising popularity among disillusioned voters seeking an alternative to traditional politics, Georgescu remains a divisive figure in Romanian society. Some view him as a dangerous populist reminiscent of Putin; others see him as a refreshing break from the establishment. His potential presidency could signal significant upheaval within Romania’s political landscape.
