The scuttled election between Georgescu — a pro-Russia, anti-EU and anti-NATO candidate — and Elena Lasconi, his center-right pro-EU challenger, was seen as pitting East against West in the country.
Georgescu’s prior praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his threats to halt aid to Ukraine prompted fears that his victory would see Romania drawn deeper into the Kremlin’s orbit. Lasconi, on the other hand, pledged to keep Romania on a path aligned with the West.
The Romanian government has yet to announce plans for a new election. In the meantime, incumbent President Klaus Iohannis has extended his term as potential candidates gear up to redo the process.
