Far-right candidate Calin Georgescu leads in Romania's presidential election, set for runoff against PM Ciolacu

In Romania's presidential election on November 25, 2024, far-right candidate Calin Georgescu led with about 22% of the vote, surprising many. He will face Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who received around 20%, in a runoff on December 8. Georgescu, an independent candidate, was not widely known before the election. His unexpected success reflects a potential backlash against mainstream political parties, which some believe have lost touch with voters. Other candidates included Elena Lasconi with 18% and George Simion at 14.1%. The election saw a turnout of about 52.4% of eligible voters, with 13 candidates competing for the presidency.