In Romania’s presidential election, independent candidate Călin Georgescu has unexpectedly taken the lead, securing 22% of the vote with 93% of ballots counted. He is ahead of Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu from the Social Democratic Party (PSD), who garnered 20%.
Georgescu, previously little-known, ran as an independent and was not considered a frontrunner in pre-election polls. His success has shocked the country’s political establishment. In a statement after the vote, he described his choice as “a prayer for the nation.” Other candidates trail behind significantly: Elena Lasconi from the Save Romania Union (USR) received about 18%, while George Simion from the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) garnered 14.1%.
The election saw a turnout of 52%, with 9.4 million voters participating. The second round, likely to be a contest between Georgescu and Ciolacu, is scheduled for December 8.
Romania is grappling with economic challenges, including a high budget deficit and inflation. The country’s president is elected for a five-year term and holds significant authority in national security, foreign policy, and judicial appointments.
