The Romanian presidential elections of 24 November 2024 produced the unexpected shock of the so-called TikTok candidate. Remembering what happened one year ago might offer a broader perspective to understand what's next. Although initially credited with only a few percentage points in pre-election polls, Călin Georgescu emerged as the leading challenger after the first round. A previously marginal public figure, Georgescu rapidly transformed into a first-rank contender, propelled by an