**Romania’s Presidential Election Takes an Unexpected Turn**
The first round of Romania’s presidential election has delivered a surprise result, with far-right candidate Calin Georgescu projected to enter the run-off vote. Georgescu is leading the polls with 22.92% of the vote, followed closely by center-left Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu at 19.17% and Elena Lasconi of the center-right Save Romania Union at 19.16%.
**A Shift in Romanian Politics?**
Georgescu’s strong showing signals a possible shift in Romania’s politics. The country has been firmly supportive of its Ukrainian neighbors throughout the full-scale war, with Romania’s head of state playing a significant role in foreign policy decisions. Georgescu has previously called for an end to this support and criticized the presence of a NATO missile defense station in Romania.
**Georgescu’s Rise to Prominence**
Georgescu was considered a marginal candidate just weeks ago, with some polls not even listing him among the top five presidential hopefuls. However, his strong presence on TikTok has helped him gain momentum, and he ran as an independent candidate despite previously being a member of the far-right AUR Alliance.
**Romania’s Pro-Ukraine Stance**
Under current Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and outgoing President Klaus Iohannis, Romania has taken a decisively pro-Ukraine stance. The country has provided military, humanitarian, and economic support to Ukraine, with Romania serving as a key conduit for Ukrainian agricultural exports.
**The Second Round Looms**
With Georgescu set to face off against either Ciolacu or Lasconi in the second round of voting on December 8, Romania’s presidential election is now more uncertain than ever. The outcome will have significant implications for the country’s foreign policy and its relationship with Ukraine.
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