Romania to hold right-wing runoff after Prime Minister finishes third in election

Romania's presidential election will have a runoff between two right-wing candidates after Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu finished third. With nearly all votes counted, Calin Georgescu leads with 22.9%, followed by Elena Lasconi at 19.16%. Ciolacu, the pre-election favorite, was projected to secure around 25% but fell short. Georgescu's rise from 5% in polls to first place marks a significant shift in Romanian politics since 1989. The presidential role is mostly ceremonial but holds influence over defense spending. Lasconi emphasizes tackling corruption and supporting Ukraine, while the winner will succeed Klaus Iohannis, who has been in office since 2014.