The runoff vote in Romania's presidential election will be contested by the center right and far right after social democratic Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu was beaten into third place.

Elena Lasconi, leader of the USR (Save Romania Union) pushed ahead, ousting Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who was a clear favourite to win the first round.

BUCHAREST - Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu looked set to win the most votes in the first round of a presidential election on Sunday, with centre-right leader Elena Lasconi in second place although nearly tied with two hard-right opponents,

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

With more than 99% of votes counted, ultranationalist Calin Georgescu has an unassailable lead of nearly 350,000 votes over centre-right candidate Elena Lasconi, with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, the pre-election favourite, in third.

Romania’s presidential election was upended by a nationalist who has voiced admiration for Russia’s Vladimir Putin, setting up a likely runoff with an establishment candidate in one of the country’s biggest upsets since the end of communism.

Calin Georgescu’s surprise victory means the current pro-West prime minister will not make it to the election runoff.

A pro-Russia far-right candidate took a surprise lead Monday in Romania's presidential election, knocking the EU-leaning premier out of the race that will be decided in a December run off.

Hard-right NATO critic and leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu appeared in dead heat after the first round of presidential elections, partial tallies showed, in a shock result threatening Romania's