Reformist Elena Lasconi (USR) and far-right independent Călin Georgescu, both of which upended the Romanian political scene by besting the candidates of the largest parties to make it in the second round of the presidential elections,

By Iulian Ernst in Bucharest The final results of the November 24 presidential election first round in Romania confirmed that far-right, pro-Russian independent candidate Călin Georgescu was the winner with 22.

In Romania, the far-right nationalist Călin Georgescu shocked pollsters as he gathered the highest number of votes — around 23% — in the country’s presidential election, knocking Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu out of the race.

The independent candidate Călin Georgescu obtained 22.38% of the votes in the first round of the presidential elections.

Elena Lasconi, one of the two candidates in the Romanian presidential election, called for support for her candidacy to prevent Romania from returning to Russian influence. Source: Elena Lasconi in her first public speech after the first round of elections,

The pro-Russian nationalist candidate Calin Georgescu had racked up a definitive 350,000 vote lead in an upset in Romania's presidential election as counting in the first round wound to a finish Monday.

The judo-loving TikTok campaigner won most votes in the first round of the presidential election. Here’s what it means.