Romania faces right-wing runoff as Prime Minister eliminated from presidential race

Romania's Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has been eliminated from the presidential election's first round. Hard-right candidate Călin Georgescu leads with 22.9% of the vote, followed by center-right Elena Lasconi at 19.16%. They will compete in a runoff. Ciolacu, previously favored to win, finished third with around 25% in exit polls. This marks a significant shift, as Georgescu's rise is unprecedented since the fall of communism in 1989. The presidential role is mostly ceremonial but influences defense spending, crucial for NATO amid the Ukraine conflict. The winner will succeed Klaus Iohannis, who has supported Ukraine since 2014.