Calin Georgescu, a former soil scientist and rising TikTok star, is poised to be elected Romania’s next president this weekend, after a sudden surge from political obscurity. The 62-year-old populist candidate, who has attracted attention with his anti-establishment rhetoric, is now the favorite in Sunday’s final run-off, where he will face Elena Lasconi of the center-right Save Romania Union party. Georgescu’s victory in the first round of Romania’s presidential election has been largely driven by a successful social media campaign, particularly on TikTok.
However, critics have pointed to his alleged ties with Russia, but he has denied these accusations. “No, nothing zero,” Georgescu told Sky News. “I am not a fan of Mr. Putin, but he is a patriot and a leader.” He emphasized that, although he supports Romania’s membership in the European Union and NATO, he would not support his country going to war. “We are all for peace,” he stated firmly.
Before diving into politics, Georgescu earned a doctorate in pedology, the study of soils, and worked in Romania’s environment ministry. He represented his country at the UN Environment Programme and later joined the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) party, though he left the party in 2022 after internal conflicts. Now running as an independent, he has made waves with his populist, anti-establishment views and outspoken social media presence.
Despite accusations that his rise to prominence was bolstered by Russian interference, Georgescu laughed off the allegations. “The last Soros Fortress has fallen,” he said, referring to a familiar far-right trope about George Soros, a philanthropist often accused of controlling global politics. “This has made them desperate,” he added.
Georgescu’s campaign, which has challenged Romania’s political status quo, has also attracted scrutiny regarding campaign funding. While Romanian authorities allege that he spent about one million euros, Georgescu insists he spent nothing. “I am independent. My party is the Romanian people,” he said.
Georgescu has previously expressed admiration for Romanian leaders who collaborated with Nazis during World War II, though he denied being antisemitic. “I consider Israel to be a fantastic country,” he remarked.
He has also voiced skepticism about man-made climate change, saying, “The climate is changing, but it is not due to human actions.” His stance on COVID-19 is similarly unorthodox. Georgescu, who doesn’t believe in the virus, insisted, “I don’t believe in it. Did you see it?” When asked about the vaccinations, he clarified that while people should make their own choices, he opposes mandatory vaccination policies. “Don’t make it obligatory for someone to do something,” he said.
Georgescu also expressed a desire for stronger ties with the United Kingdom. Having lived in the UK, he views it as a vital trading partner for Romania. “The UK is a trading country and Romania is a commodity country. We will find fantastic cooperation,” he said, adding that Romania would offer a strong economic partnership to Britain.
As the presidential race enters its final stretch, all eyes are on Georgescu, whose unorthodox views and sudden rise have shaken Romania’s political landscape.
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