Far-right populist advances to runoff in Romania's presidential election

A little-known far-right populist, Calin Georgescu, has advanced to the runoff in Romania's presidential election after securing about 22.95% of the vote, surpassing incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. This marks a significant shift in Romania's political landscape. Georgescu will face reformist candidate Elena Lasconi, who received 19.17% of the vote. This is the first time in 35 years that the Social Democratic Party will not have a candidate in the second round, highlighting a growing anti-establishment sentiment among voters. The runoff is scheduled for December 8. Georgescu's popularity surged unexpectedly, especially among the Romanian diaspora, while Lasconi campaigns on an anti-corruption platform. Romania will also hold parliamentary elections on December 1.