Romania's pro-European Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu was leading in the first round of presidential elections Sunday according to exit polls, with the far right not yet assured of a place in the second round,

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.

Most polls predicted Calin Georgescu to win less than 10% of the vote in the first round of Romania’s presidential election.

In what may go down as one of Europe's more stunning election cycles in years, a largely unknown illiberal ultranationalist infused with conspiracy theories won the first round of presidential elections in Romania.

The Romanian presidential elections have resulted in an unexpected scenario with hard-right NATO critic Calin Georgescu and leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu neck-and-neck. Georgescu's unexpected rise challenges Romania's pro-Ukraine stance as voters focus on economic issues and security amid tensions with Russia.

Calin Georgescu, a Romanian hard-right NATO critic, appeared in a dead heat with leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu after the first round of presidential elections on Sunday, partial tallies showed,

Calin Georgescu, who has stunned Romania and its European allies by leading the first round of the eastern European country's presidential election, is a far-right, self-styled outsider critical of NATO and of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Romania’s political landscape is reeling after a little-known, far-right populist secured the first round in the presidential election.