Romania's top court orders recount of presidential election votes, raising integrity concerns

Romania's top court has ordered a recount of the votes from the first round of the presidential election held on November 24. This decision follows a challenge from conservative candidate Cristian Terhes, who received only 1% of the votes. Independent candidate Calin Georgescu unexpectedly won the first round, raising questions about the election's integrity. He will face centrist candidate Elena Lasconi in a run-off on December 8, while parliamentary elections are set for this Sunday. The court's ruling has raised concerns about the credibility of Romania's electoral process, especially with three elections scheduled in quick succession. The recount will take several days once the official request is processed.