A far-right populist shocks Romania by heading into the presidential runoff

Associated Press

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romania is reeling after a little-known, far-right populist secured the first round in the presidential election. Calin Georgescu was ahead Monday after nearly all ballots were counted with around 22.94% of the vote. Most local surveys predicted he’s win less than 10%. He will face reformist Elena Lasconi in a Dec. 8. runoff. Local media reported that Georgescu has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as “a man who loves his country” and called Ukraine “an invented state.” Lasconi warns that Romania is now in “a historical confrontation between preserving its young democracy and returning it “to the Russian sphere of influence.”