The Use of Fear and Risk in Mobilizing Undecided Voters in the Romanian Presidential Election Campaign
In the final days of the campaign for the first round of the Romanian presidential elections, a clear direction is emerging in the strategies of parties and candidates: mobilization through fear and risks of the undecided electorate.
Political analyst Cristian Pîrvulescu explains how this mobilization is predominantly carried out through social networks, where narratives and stories are used to stimulate fear and unease among citizens.
“First of all, they mobilize the undecided through narratives that are meant to scare them, risks, big risks depending on the specifics of each electorate.” These messages will be tailored to each category of voters and will be disseminated primarily through social media. According to the analyst, “in Romania, subgroup analysis is very high, and mobilization is generally done on social networks by transmitting so-called narratives of stories that result in… inciting that electorate to participate in voting because something serious is about to happen.”
- Mobilization predominantly online on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Meta, and X (formerly Twitter).
- Differentiation in target audiences on each platform to mobilize effectively.
- Focus on anti-PSD sentiment to drive voter turnout.
Positioning of Right-Wing Candidate vs. Left-Wing Candidate in the Final Days of the Campaign
Pîrvulescu also highlights another significant aspect of the electoral campaign, which is the absence of a true left-wing candidate in the Romanian political scene, turning the battle into a dispute between candidates from the right-wing spectrum.
“There is no left-wing candidate in Romania! There is no left-wing candidate at this moment in Romania! There are only right-wing candidates. In the parliamentary elections, there are left-wing groups, 3, left, center-left, namely: SENS, DREPT ȘI REPER. This is also a problem that the 3 have, according to the polls, together they have around 6-8% of the votes. Some of them could, in certain circumstances, even enter parliament and upset the calculations, but they don’t have left-wing candidates, they don’t exist. There is Mr. Ciolacu who says he is left-wing. He spoke to Trump. Mr. Ciolacu’s program is compatible with Trump’s program and was not compatible with Harris’ program. We have populist candidates, but we don’t have left-wing candidates representing left-wing values.”
- Discussion on traditional values and family as a point of divergence between candidates.
- Clear pro-European message as a differentiator.
- Lack of a true left-wing vision in Romania.
Societal Themes and Candidates’ Positions
In terms of societal themes, the only candidate who has shown some openness to discussions about civil partnerships was Elena Lasconi, while the others were more rigid in their positions.
“In the moment when a normal issue was raised in civil partnership, only Lasconi was somewhat open. The rest of the candidates were against it, marriage is only between a man and a woman, said Mr. Diaconescu who seemed moderate, a position that is a fascist position, and if you believe that fascists are left-wing then we have a huge number of left-wing people in Romania.”
- Divergence on the issue of civil partnerships and traditional family values.
- Analogy drawn between some candidates’ positions and extremist ideologies.
Conclusion
The Romanian presidential election campaign is witnessing a mobilization strategy centered around fear and risks to sway undecided voters. The absence of a true left-wing candidate has shifted the focus to a right-wing battle, with clear distinctions on societal themes and values. As the campaign intensifies, the use of narratives and social media platforms will play a crucial role in shaping voter sentiment and turnout.
FAQs
1. How are narratives being used in the Romanian presidential election campaign?
Narratives are being utilized to instill fear and unease among undecided voters, primarily through social media platforms where tailored stories are disseminated to drive voter mobilization.
2. Why is there a lack of left-wing candidates in Romania?
The absence of true left-wing candidates in Romania has led to a right-wing dominance in the presidential election campaign, with discussions centered around traditional values, family, and a clear pro-European message.