Romania's parliamentary elections on December 1, were a genuine litmus test for a young democracy on the fringes of the European Union (EU). With a turnout of 52.50%, compared to just 31.84% in the previous parliamentary race in 2020, voters responded more to the call of the ballot box. But the central question was not just about electing a new Parliament. It posed a crucial alternative: continuing to anchor itself firmly in the West and in the Euro-Atlantic sphere, or yielding to the siren calls of a rapprochement toward the East and Vladimir Putin's Russia.

The elections only reinforced this polarization of Romanian society. After 99% of polling stations had been counted, the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the main center-left force, maintained its dominant position with 23% of the vote. But the real event was the spectacular rise of the ultranationalist Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) party, which swept 18%. With sovereignist rhetoric and themes strongly embracing Russian views, AUR is becoming the country's second-largest political movement.

If the votes cast for small parties aligned with the extremists are added, over 30% of Romanians voted for anti-European or pro-Russian parties. George Simion, AUR's charismatic leader, welcomed this historic result: "Today the Romanian people voted for pro-sovereignty forces," he declared after the polls closed. "Our dream of sweeping the Social Democrats and Liberals out of government has been fulfilled."

There is no clear majority, although a pro-European coalition between the center-right and the left seems the most likely scenario. These elections took place in a tense climate, marked by tensions linked to the war in Ukraine and a surge in populist and anti-European rhetoric. They are also being held in an unprecedented electoral phase, between the first round of the presidential election on November 24 and the second round scheduled for December 8. The stakes go far beyond Romania's borders, with direct implications for European security.

The surprise of the first round of the presidential election was the breakthrough of Calin Georgescu, an extremist pro-Russian candidate who captured the attention of a disillusioned electorate. The 62-year-old former engineer, who has no political backing but is very popular on TikTok, beat off candidates from traditional political parties. With his short, punchy videos, he was able to mobilize a young electorate often far removed from the ballot box.

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