Romania’s Georgescu shocks presidential race with social media strategy

Calin Georgescu, the far-right figure who shocked Romania by taking the lead in the first round of the country's presidential election, is a pro-Russian, anti-vaxxer radical with a gift for social media.

Barely known outside Romania, Georgescu's popularity surged ahead of Sunday's vote with viral TikTok campaigns calling for an end to aid for Ukraine and sounding a sceptical note on NATO.

Georgescu, who ran as an independent, has attracted a sizeable following on platforms such as YouTube for years, away from the mainstream media.

In one anti-vaccination video, the 62-year-old can be seen stripping down to jump into a snow-covered lake high in the mountains, while praising his "faith in God" and the strength of his "immune system".

Several of his TikTok videos have been viewed between two and three million times, with messages like "for Romania, for peace" especially resonating with voters worried about the war in neighbouring Ukraine.

Few reporters were present when Georgescu cast his ballot on Sunday. Pre-election polls did not see him in the runoff, and even less predicted that he would get 23 percent of the vote to top the candidates.

"The Internet is the only place where there is freedom of expression," he said in a recent video.

 'Saviour'  

Georgescu's success can partially be attributed to him flying "under the radar", sociologist Gelu Duminica told AFP.

Unlike his opponents, Georgescu did not participate in debates with other candidates and thus was "not attacked by anyone" or his record "dismantled", he added.

Many undecided voters, who felt disappointed by the established parties, saw him as a "saviour" as there are so few leaders capable of "uniting them", the expert said.

Maria Chis, 70, said Georgescu appeared to be "a man of integrity, serious and patriotic."

A graduate of the University of Bucharest, the agricultural engineer began his career in 1992 in the environment ministry before joining the foreign ministry.

In the 2010s, Georgescu had been suggested as a possible prime minister.

During the Covid pandemic, he became a vocal vaccine-critic, frequently spreading his conspiracy-laden narratives.

Once linked to Romania's far-right AUR party --  which tapped George Simion as their candidate in the presidential ballot -- Georgescu distanced himself from it after taking a number of controversial positions.

  Admirer of Putin  

Georgescu has defended a notorious anti-Semite, Corneliu Codreanu, the leader of the Iron Guard between the wars, and fascist Marshal Ion Antonescu.

On several occasions, he has denounced NATO as a "weak" organisation, even though Romania has emerged as a key player on the alliance's eastern flank.

He attacked the alliance's anti-missile system based in Deveselu -- which Russia has slammed as a threat -- and opposed aid to Ukraine, refusing to be "dragged into a conflict that is not ours". Romania has a long border with Ukraine.

Although the Kremlin said on Monday that it was not "very familiar" with Georgescu, several years ago he expressed admiration for Vladimir Putin, saying he is "one of the rare leaders" worthy of the name, and known for "Russian wisdom".

For political scientist Remus Stefureac, spectacular rise of Georgescu is "unprecedented" in Romania's democratic history.