A far-right populist and a reformist will face off in Romania’s presidential runoff

Associated Press

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romania’s political landscape is reeling after a little-known, far-right populist secured the first round in the presidential election, going from an obscure candidate to beating the incumbent prime minister and a reformist politician. Calin Georgescu was ahead Momday after nearly all ballots were counted with around 22.94% of the vote. Elena Lasconi of the progressive Save Romania Union party followed with 19.17%. She beat by a slim margin incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu of the Social Democratic Party, who stood at 19.15%.