Romania has a new government, composed largely of the same players as the previous team. On Monday, December 23, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis reappointed 57-year-old Social Democrat Marcel Ciolacu to lead a government in crisis. Prime minister since June 2023, Ciolacu has assumed the reins of a reshuffled administration following the December 1 parliamentary elections, held against a backdrop of political turmoil culminating, five days later, in the annulment of the presidential election by the Constitutional Court. "The mandate entrusted to me today is an honor. We are going through a complex period. I believe we have all learned from past mistakes," said Ciolacu following the announcement of his reappointment.

The bombshell cancelation of the presidential run-off election was triggered by the meteoric rise of far-right, pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu, who unexpectedly topped the first round on November 24 with 22.9% of the vote. Thanks to a skilfully orchestrated campaign on TikTok, this outsider captured a young, disengaged audience, upsetting the traditional candidates in this key country of the Atlantic alliance. Located at the gateway to wartorn Ukraine, Romania has played an important strategic role as Kyiv's main supply corridor, ensuring the transit of military equipment and humanitarian aid.

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