Călin Georgescu, a pro-Russian independent candidate, unexpectedly won the first round of the Romanian presidential election with approximately 22.94% of the votes. The competition for second place is tight between Marcel Ciolacu and Elena Lasconi, with only a slight margin separating them. The second round will take place on December 8. Georgescu's victory has raised concerns due to his NATO-critical and anti-Semitic remarks, while Lasconi emphasizes support for Ukraine. Analysts note the election's significance for Romania's NATO and EU alignment amidst regional instability. Teljes cikk (SzabadEurópa)