Thousands support centrist candidate Elena Lasconi in Romania ahead of runoff election
Thousands of supporters rallied in Bucharest for centrist presidential candidate Elena Lasconi ahead of the December 8 runoff. The election follows two previous votes for a new parliament and president in Romania. Lasconi faces far-right candidate Calin Georgescu, who is pro-Russian. A Georgescu victory could shift Romania's politics away from its pro-European stance. At the rally, around 3,000 people chanted slogans like "Europe!" and "No Fascism." They carried banners highlighting concerns about democracy and the future of the country within the EU and NATO.