Populist Calin Georgescu takes surprise lead in Romania's presidential election

euronews (in English)

After polls closed, 9.4 million people - just over 52% of eligible voters - had cast their ballots, according to data from the Permanent Electoral Authority.

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00:00A little-known far-right populist has taken the lead in Romania's presidential election,

00:07a surprise outcome that's rocked the country's political landscape.

00:11Independent candidate Călin Georgescu is leading the polls with around 22 percent of

00:16the vote.

00:17Analysts say since he lacked a clear agenda, support for him appeared to be a protest vote

00:22against the establishment.

00:24Falling second is Prime Minister Marcel Ceaulacu of the Social Democratic Party at 20 percent.

00:30He was widely expected to lead the first-round vote.

00:33Ceaulacu said before polls opened that one of his biggest goals was to convince Romanians

00:38that it's worth staying in Romania.

00:40Elena Lasconi of the Save Romania Union Party was polling third with 18 percent.

00:46Casting her ballot, she also spoke about Romania's massive diaspora spread throughout Europe

00:51and said her priority was to make sure state institutions worked properly.

00:56George Simeon, the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, took

01:0014.1 percent of the vote.

01:04Pollsters expected him to face Ceaulacu in December's runoff.

01:08Simeon campaigned for reunification with Moldova, which this year renewed a five-year ban on

01:13him entering the country.

01:15Thirteen candidates ran for the presidency in the European Union and NATO member country.

01:21The president serves a five-year term and has significant decision-making powers in

01:25areas such as national security and foreign policy.

01:29The second round of the presidential vote will be held on the 8th of December, a week

01:33after parliamentary elections.

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