Călin Georgescu has solidified his position as the frontrunner in Romania’s presidential race, according to a recent poll. Conducted by Avangarde and shared by HotNews.ro on January 20, the survey places Georgescu, an anti-globalist candidate, at 38% ahead of the re-run election scheduled for May 4, with a potential second round on May 18.
The poll, which surveyed 1,354 voters between January 10 and 16, follows the annulment of December’s presidential election by Romania’s top court. The decision came just before the final round, citing allegations of Russian interference that allegedly boosted Georgescu through a disproportionate social media campaign—a charge Moscow has denied.
Meanwhile, other candidates are grappling with fluctuating voter support. Crin Antonescu, representing the pro-Brussels coalition government, sits in second place with 25%. His campaign has focused on deepening Romania’s integration into the European Union.
Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan, who has hinted at running as an independent, holds 17% in the poll. On the other hand, Elena Lasconi, leader of the Save Romania Union (USR) and Georgescu’s former second-round rival, has seen her support nosedive to just 6%.
Despite his strong showing, Georgescu’s eligibility to compete in the re-run election remains uncertain. This comes amid controversy sparked by a comment from former European Commissioner Thierry Breton. On January 9, during an appearance on French broadcaster RMC, Breton claimed the European Commission had interfered in Romanian elections. “We did it in Romania, and we can do it in Germany,” he said when asked about the possibility of Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party winning in their February 23 elections.
As the May 4 election approaches, the political climate in Romania remains heated, with questions swirling about interference, fairness, and the candidates’ future strategies.
