AFP – Around 2,000 people protested in Romania’s capital of Bucharest after the surprise win of a far-right candidate in the first round of the country’s presidential elections.
Calin Georgescu secured an unexpected lead in the presidential election, knocking out Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.
Demonstrators gathered at the Victory square in Bucharest bearing European Union flags and banners reading ‘The day we give in is the day we die’ and ‘Better dead than fascist’.
The election result sent shock waves across the country of 19 million, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member that has so far resisted nationalist appeals, setting itself apart from neighbours Hungary and Slovakia. Georgescu, an admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was in pole position with 22.95 per cent of the ballot in the first round.
Most of the protesters on Wednesday were young people who want Romania to remain part of the West. Bianca Munteanu, 25, said the first-round result was a big shock for her “because we were never expecting for the history to repeat again”, referring to the violent civil unrest that swept Romania in 1989 during the fall of communism in eastern Europe.
“I think a lot of people know about what happened in 1989. And the fact that we are right now in this position is absolutely shocking,” Munteanu said. “I want to study. I want to enjoy international programmes. And I want to be free to travel. And I want my grandparents and my parents to be safe at home,” she said.
