In the presidential elections in Romania, following the first round, the ultra-right candidate and critic of the EU and NATO, Kalin Georgescu, is leading with 22.94% of the votes.
This information was reported on the official website of the country's Central Election Commission after counting 99.94% of the votes.
In which countries will power be re-elected in 2024The elections in 2024 will take place in more than 60 countries worldwide. Where voting will occur is shown in the infographic.The race for second place is between the chairwoman of the opposition party in Romania, "Union for the Salvation of Citizens," Elena Lascu (19.17% of votes) and the current Prime Minister, Marchel Colacu (19.16%).
The second round of the presidential elections in Romania is scheduled for December 8. In the first round, 9.5 million people voted (turnout was 52.55%).
Georgescu ran as an independent candidate and was not widely known. According to Politico, he is extremely religious and holds nationalist views. Before the elections, he campaigned for reducing Romania's dependence on imports, supporting farmers, and increasing domestic production of food and energy.
Georgescu also claimed that the EU and NATO do not adequately represent Romania's interests and argued that Russia's war in Ukraine "is a result of manipulations by American military companies."
In 2022, he claimed that the US missile defense shield located in the southern Romanian village of Deveselu is part of a confrontational policy, rather than a peaceful measure.
Additionally, Georgescu admires Hungary and has described Putin as "a man who loves his country."
It is worth noting that exit polls indicated that Colacu and Lascu would advance to the second round.
On November 16, Georgia officially announced the victory of the "Georgian Dream" party in parliamentary elections. Protests are ongoing in Tbilisi.