Bucharest, Romania – A surprising turn of events has unfolded in the presidential election in Romania, with a far-right, pro-Russia candidate unexpectedly taking the lead in the initial round of voting. The preliminary results show the pro-Europe contender trailing closely behind. Calin Georgescu, an ultranationalist without a party, has garnered 22% of the vote, edging out prime minister Marcel Ciolacu, who stands at 20% with 96% of ballots counted, according to the Central Electoral Bureau.

Georgescu’s strong showing, fueled by a campaign predominantly conducted on the social media platform TikTok, has created a significant shift in the election landscape. Now, the country braces for a final showdown between Georgescu and Ciolacu in the runoff scheduled for December 8.

The upcoming decision presents a dilemma for Romanian voters who had supported other candidates in the preliminary round. Whether to rally behind the populist Social Democrat Ciolacu, an established figure advocating for Romania’s pro-western stance, or to opt for Georgescu, who champions sovereignty and aims to break away from what he perceives as subservience to the European Union and NATO.

Georgescu, who has vowed to end Romania’s perceived reliance on the EU and NATO while criticizing their support for Ukraine, has also expressed opposition to the NATO ballistic missile defense shield in Deveselu, Romania. The final results of the initial round are anticipated later on Monday, with the counts from Bucharest and the Romanian diaspora yet to be factored in.

The primary focus of the campaign centered on the escalating cost of living in Romania, where the country boasts the highest percentage in the EU of individuals at risk of poverty. Exit polls initially indicated a substantial lead for Ciolacu, with center-right candidate Elena Lasconi predicted to secure second place. However, the current standings position Lasconi in third at 18%, trailing behind Georgescu and Ciolacu, and just ahead of nationalist George Simion in fourth.

In Romania, although the president holds a predominantly symbolic role, their influence extends significantly to areas such as foreign policy. Voter turnout mirrored that of five years ago, standing at 51% for this election cycle. The upcoming final round will determine which candidate will assume the presidency and shape the future trajectory of the country’s politics and international relations.