**Romania’s Presidential Election: A Close Second Round**
The first round of Romania’s presidential election is complete. The country will now head into a second round on December 8. This comes after anti–Western nationalist politician Calin Georgescu won the most votes, with 22.95% of the total.
**Who Is in the Running?**
Yelena Laskoni, a pro-Ukrainian and pro-Western liberal candidate, is also moving on to the second round with 19.17% of the votes. This means that Georgescu will face off against her for the top spot.
**The Unexpected Winner**
Georgescu, who ran as an independent candidate, surprised many by taking the lead in the first round. He campaigned largely on social media and has no party affiliation. His strong showing has been called a “big surprise” by BBC reporters.
**What Does Georgescu Stand For?**
As a pro-Russian candidate, Georgescu wants to reduce Romania’s dependence on the EU and NATO. He opposes sending military aid to Ukraine and questioned the effectiveness of NATO’s missile defense system in Romania. This is significant because Romania shares a border with Ukraine and has recently enhanced its security measures after Russian drone strikes.
**Controversy Surrounds Georgescu**
Georgescu’s political career has been marked by controversy. He has faced backlash for praising historical figures associated with fascist past in Romania. His ties to the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) have also raised eyebrows.
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