Adrian Pascu-Tulbure has narrated this article for you to listen to.
Strange things are happening again in global politics. In Romania, a former UN sustainability adviser who has made admiring remarks about the fascist 1930s Iron Guard movement has just won the first round of the presidential elections.
If you like Andrew Tate, the notorious ‘manosphere’ influencer who also happens to be a Romanian resident, you’ll love Calin Georgescu. A trim 62-year-old former national judo champion, he likes to post videos of himself swimming in ice on TikTok. ‘I believe in my immune system because I have faith in my creator,’ he says. He’s a Putin admirer who ran on an explicitly anti-Nato, anti-EU and anti-Ukrainian platform. And he caused particular consternation by making what critics see as carefully coded remarks in praise of Corneliu Zelea Codreanu, the Iron Guard leader, and Marshal Ion Antonescu, who allied with Hitler. ‘I cannot speak about martyrs,’ he said, nodding towards a law that prohibits Romanians from speaking out in favour of the Iron Guard.
But saying the unsayable is a key part of Georgescu’s appeal. His victory would represent a significant repudiation of EU economics and the West’s support for Ukraine. Similar to Donald Trump’s campaign, Georgescu has focused on the exorbitant cost of living and bringing about peace through strength. His message resonates particularly with younger, poorer and less educated voters, of which Romania has plenty.
The speed of his ascent has made liberal heads spin. Until recently, Georgescu had been bobbing along at 2 or 3 per cent in the polls. Last Wednesday, he reached 7 per cent.
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