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Romania’s mainstream parties have started to rally behind pro-western candidate Elena Lasconi as their only chance to prevent an ultranationalist, Russia-friendly politician from winning the country’s presidency.
Călin Georgescu, a relatively unknown far-right candidate, shocked Romania’s political establishment and its western allies when he topped the first round of a presidential vote on Sunday with 22 per cent. Lasconi, a former journalist and member of a pro-EU liberal opposition party (USR), came in second with 19 per cent, with a run-off scheduled for December 8.
“We will support Romania’s pro-European direction and centre-right politics,” said Ilie Bolojan, the new leader of the ruling centre-right PNL party. “We will support without any negotiation the candidacy of Lasconi, the pro-European option.”
The leadership of the PNL, as well…