Romania's Political Turmoil Amid Protests

Romania faces significant political unrest as protests erupt against far-right and pro-Russian presidential candidate Călin Georgescu. Surprisingly, Georgescu advanced past the first round, aligning with the far-right party AUR.

He faces prosecution for glorifying fascists, stirring public outrage. Opposing him is Elena Lasconi, a pro-Western candidate, vying in the runoff election.

The Romanian presidency holds substantial influence over foreign and defense policies and controls intelligence services. Concurrently, parliamentary elections might see far-right parties gaining strength.

In cities like Iași, demonstrators voice their disapproval, chanting against fascism and Russian influence. Georgescu, leveraging social media instead of traditional campaigns, capitalized on public dissatisfaction with the political establishment.

His rise underscores a clash between Western alignment and nationalist, pro-Russian sentiments in Romania.