Romanian PM resigns as Leftist Party leader after election defeat

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has announced his resignation as leader of the Social Democrats (PSD) after failing to advance to the second round of the presidential election. Despite stepping down as party leader, Ciolacu will remain prime minister until parliamentary elections scheduled for Dec. 1.

The presidential race saw a surprising shift as independent far-right candidate Calin Georgescu emerged as the frontrunner, securing 22.94% of votes. Georgescu, a critic of NATO who has praised Russia, will face Elena Lasconi, leader of the opposition Save Romania Union, in the Dec. 8 run-off. Lasconi, a centre-right candidate, received 19.18% of the vote.

This unexpected result marks a significant challenge for Romania’s pro-Western stance. Georgescu’s rhetoric includes calls for “neutrality” and critiques of Romania’s alignment with NATO and the European Union, raising concerns among analysts about the country’s future policies.