Romania’s constitutional court has validated the shock first-round result in the country’s presidential election, setting the stage for a runoff vote that could upend its pro-western orientation and undermine its backing for Ukraine.

The ruling clears the uncertainty that has hung over the country since the court demanded a vote recount last week, after the victory of a little-known far-right candidate raised suspicions of outside meddling in the electoral process of a country that has been a staunch ally of Ukraine.

Cǎlin Georgescu, a Moscow-friendly ultranationalist, will now face the centre-right contender Elena Lasconi in a runoff on Sunday.

The much-anticipated court decision was announced a day after Romania held a parliamentary election in which the ruling Social Democrat party (PSD) appeared on course to win the most votes.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/02/romania-social-democrats-on-course-to-win-parliamentary-majority