Independent Calin Georgescu faces reformist Elena Lasconi on December 8. PM Marcel Ciolacu has resigned as Social Democrats’ leader.

Geert Wilders, an anti-immigrant right-wing politicians, came in first in the Netherlands’ national election last December, not long after a politician once photographed wearing a Nazi armband won Italy’s election. And the far right in France posted stronger-than-expected results in the country’s surprise elections this summer.

A hard-right critic of NATO who has praised Russia is set to face a centre-right opposition leader in a presidential election run-off in Romania that could undermine its pro-Western stance after a shock outcome in the first-round vote.

Calin Georgescu, who ran independently, will face off against reformist Elena Lasconi in a runoff in two weeks.

Calin Georgescu, who ran independently, will face reformist Elena Lasconi in a Dec. 8. runoff after most local surveys predicted he would win less than 10% of the vote. Georgescu, 62, was ahead after nearly all ballots were counted with around 22.95%.

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu was on course to win the first round of Romania’s presidential election and is likely to face anti-corruption party leader Elena Lasconi in a runoff in two weeks.

Electoral data shows a far-right populist leads in Romania’s presidential election and will likely face leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu in a runoff in two weeks

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

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.