(Opening music plays as the camera pans to a mock news desk, where I, a hybrid of Jimmy Carr, Rowan Atkinson, Ricky Gervais, and Lee Evans, sit with a cheeky grin)
“Welcome to the most unexpected, thrilling, and downright worrying news from the world of politics. I’m your host, and I’ll be guiding you through the twisted tale of Romania’s presidential elections. So, buckle up, folks, and try to keep up!
“Now, it seems that a certain Calin Georgescu has made quite the splash in the first round of the elections, snagging a whopping 23 percent of the votes. Who is this enigmatic figure, you ask? Well, let me enlighten you. Georgescu is a self-proclaimed nationalist, with a penchant for Putin, a distaste for NATO, and a healthy dose of anti-Western sentiment. Ah, just what Romania needs, another far-right politician with a love for authoritarian regimes!
“But wait, it gets better. Georgescu has also been accused of extremism, which he vehemently denies, of course. ‘I dedicate myself with all of myself, with my heart, with my life to the Romanian people,’ he claims. Oh, how touching. I’m sure the Romanian people are just thrilled to have a leader who’s willing to dedicate his life to them, as long as they agree with his far-right ideology, that is.
“Now, I know what you’re thinking. How did this chap manage to win over so many voters? Well, it seems that social media played a significant role in his campaign. With over 200k followers on TikTok and a whopping four million ‘likes,’ Georgescu has managed to create a bit of a cult following. Who needs traditional politics when you can just create a viral video and call yourself a messiah?
“And speaking of messiahs, Georgescu has compared his victory to the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. Ah, yes, because nothing says ‘miraculous’ like a far-right politician winning an election. I mean, who needs actual miracles when you can just manipulate social media algorithms and create a pseudo-messianic image?
“But fear not, dear readers, for there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. Elena Lasconi, the mayor and leader of the centre-right Union Save Romania party, has launched an appeal to the Romanians of the diaspora, urging them to vote in the run-off election. Ah, yes, because nothing says ‘democracy’ like relying on expats to save the day.
“And finally, in a shocking turn of events, the Romanian National Liberal Party has announced that it will support Lasconi in the second round of the presidential elections. Ah, yes, because nothing says ‘unity’ like a bunch of politicians backing a different horse mid-race.
“Well, there you have it, folks. The Romanian presidential elections: where far-right politicians, social media manipulation, and pseudo-messianic rhetoric come together in a thrilling tale of politics and intrigue. Stay tuned for more updates, and try not to lose your mind in the process.”
(Closing music plays as the camera pans out, and I give a cheeky grin)
“And that’s a wrap, folks. Thanks for joining me on this wild ride. Until next time, when we’ll undoubtedly be covering another absurd news story, goodbye and good luck!”
Here is the rewritten article with added details and removal of sentences with less than 7 words:
In a shocking turn of events, Calin Georgescu, an independent nationalist candidate with ties to the far-right, will proceed to the run-off on December 8, alongside Elena Lasconi, the centre-right Union Save Romania party’s leader and mayor, who garnered 19 percent of the votes. Georgescu’s rise to the top spot, with 23 percent of the votes, has left the Romanian political system reeling. Over a thousand young people gathered in University Square, in the heart of Bucharest, to express their discontent and chant pro-Europe slogans, such as “Putin, don’t forget, Romania is not yours.”
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Georgescu’s ascent has been likened to a miracle by the candidate himself, who, with a strong online presence, including 200k followers on TikTok and over 4 million “likes” on the platform, has managed to tap into the frustrations of the Romanian people. By promoting a utopian narrative that resonates with conservative voters, Georgescu has become a messianic figure on social media, despite being criticized for his extremist views, including anti-Western and pro-Russian rhetoric, as well as his denial of the COVID-19 pandemic and praise for Putin. The candidate’s success has also been attributed to his ability to harness the power of social media, employing a sophisticated campaign that has run for years, utilizing visualization, propagation, and hashtags to garner a large following.
Dragos Paslaru, co-president of the Reper party, comments, “The idea of visualization, propagation, and use of hashtags, which requires highly committed groups of people, not just bots and algorithms, earned him followers and not, as can be found in other parts of the world, committed supporters.” Georgescu, a devout Orthodox Christian, often invokes God in his rhetoric, stating, “I dedicate myself with all of myself, with my heart, with my life to the Romanian people,” and referencing the bond that unites them as “the Romanian people, who remained in darkness for so long, saw the great light through the strength of conscience.”
Georgescu also draws parallels between his victory and biblical stories, such as the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, stating, “Five loaves and two fish which when multiplied make 2,120,404,” referring to the number of votes he obtained.
The conservative candidate’s supporters have taken to social media to express their discontent with the current state of Romanian politics, with some labeling traditional politicians as “transactional” and hailing Georgescu as a savior figure. Dear Stanca, founder of the Ethical Media Alliance, notes, “He is selling one utopian story. He is selling a dream for conservative Romanians.” However, Georgescu’s detractors believe that his views are at odds with the values of the European Union and that his election could have far-reaching consequences for Romania’s relationship with the EU and NATO.
The growing popularity of far-right and nationalist groups in Romania’s politics has raised concerns ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections on December 1. If the polls are correct, the Social Democrats (PSD) of Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu may emerge victorious, with 30 percent of the vote, but the national conservative ASR party of George Simion is also making gains, with 21 percent of preferences. Simion has capitalized on the rise of far-right sentiment, floating the idea of forming a “sovereignist government and electing a sovereignist president.”
