Far-right candidate Călin Georgescu wins first round of Romania's presidential election
Călin Georgescu, an independent candidate, has unexpectedly won the first round of Romania's presidential election. His rise comes amid growing support for far-right parties across Europe, despite not being recognized in pre-election polls. Georgescu, a former UN official, has previously expressed controversial views on climate change and NATO. His campaign gained traction through social media, with reports of unusual activity on TikTok raising concerns about potential Russian interference. The second round of voting is set for next month, where mainstream parties are likely to unite behind center-right candidate Elena Lasconi to counter Georgescu's momentum.