Romanian Social Democrats lead in second parliamentary election round, exit polls show

Exit polls indicate that Romania's Social Democrats (PSD) are leading in the second parliamentary election round, following an unexpected rise of independent far-right candidate Calin Georgescu in the presidential race. The PSD is projected to secure 26% of the votes. Georgescu's emergence has boosted support for far-right parties, which may complicate coalition-building efforts. The far-right Alliance for Uniting Romanians is currently at 19%. The final government formation will depend on the presidential election outcome. Romania's top court has delayed a decision on the first presidential ballot results, citing potential campaign interference. A recount of nearly 9.5 million votes is underway, with a possible rerun of the first round scheduled for December 15.