A pro-Russian critic of Nato has taken the lead in the first round of Romania’s presidential elections, in a shock result that could upend its support for Ukraine.

Romanian Premier Marcel Ciolacu led the first round of Sunday's presidential election with 25% votes, exit polls showed, and a run-off seemed likely after two weeks. Ciolacu, candidate of the Social Democratic Party, was followed by Elena Lasconi of the Save Romania Union party with 18%, the Antena3 broadcaster reported.

Putin, far-right politician who surprisingly won the first round of Romania’s presidential elections on Sunday had recently gone viral on social media without pollsters registering his surge. Călin Georgescu,

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu called for an investigation into a campaign of his pro-Russian ultranationalist opponent following his shock defeat in the first round of the country’s presidential election.

Calin Georgescu’s surprise victory means the current pro-West prime minister will not make it to the election runoff.

A pro-Russia far-right candidate took a surprise lead Monday in Romania's presidential election, knocking the EU-leaning premier out of the race that will be decided in a December run off.

A little-known pro-Russian candidate won the first round of Romania’s presidential election after an unprecedented backlash against establishment candidates eliminated Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, the presumed frontrunner,

Right, pro-Putin candidate took the unexpected lead in the country’s presidential election in an outcome that threatens its staunchly pro-Ukraine stance. Calin Georgescu, 62, who has no party of his own and campaigned largely on TikTok,