Romania election tense, results could affect Ukraine

(CLO) Far-right NATO critic Calin Georgescu and leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu are locked in a stalemate in the first round of Romania's presidential election on Sunday, an outcome that could impact Romania's pro-Ukraine stance.

After nearly 93% of the votes were counted, Mr Georgescu, 62, had 22%, while Mr Ciolacu had 21%, suggesting they would likely face each other in the second round, scheduled for December 8.

Romania's president has a quasi-executive role and can control the defense budget in a country that is under pressure to maintain NATO military spending targets.

Presidential candidate Calin Georgescu speaks during the Romanian election. Photo: AP

It is worth mentioning that Mr. Georgescu's unexpected lead in the election results was a big shock in Romania, when some polls before the election showed that he only won about 5% of the vote, but that number increased to 22%.

Political commentator Radu Magdin said the difference between the poll results and Sunday's election results was unprecedented since Romania abandoned communism in 1989.

This year's election campaign in Romania has focused heavily on rising living costs, in a country with the highest rate of people at risk of poverty in the European Union (EU).

Mr Ciolacu won over voters with promises of generous spending, no tax increases and a strong commitment to Ukraine, despite Romania running the EU's biggest budget deficit at 8% of its economic outlook.

Meanwhile, once a prominent member of the far-right Romanian Unity Alliance party, Mr Georgescu has called NATO's ballistic missile defence shield in the Romanian town of Deveselu a "diplomatic embarrassment". He has said NATO would not defend any of its members if they were attacked.

Romania shares a 650km border with Ukraine and since Russia's conflict with Ukraine in 2022, it has allowed millions of tonnes of grain exports through the Black Sea port of Constanta and provided heavy military aid to Kiev, including the donation of a Patriot air defence battery.

Villages on the border with Ukraine have seen a series of drones intruding into national airspace, although there have been no reports of casualties.

Outgoing President Klaus Iohannis, 65, has cemented Romania's strong pro-Western stance, but is seen as not being tough enough on corruption.

Bui Huy (according to Reuters, AP, AJ)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/bau-cu-romania-dien-ra-cang-thang-ket-qua-co-the-anh-huong-toi-ukraine-post322721.html