Calin Georgescu, running as an independent candidate for president, speaks to media after registering his bid in the country's presidential elections, in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Alexandru Dobre)
Romania’s Constitutional Court has invalidated the results of the first round of the presidential election, in which pro-Russian candidate Kelin Georgescu received the most support.
The government must now set a new election date, according to the court’s website.
In the first round, Georgescu, known for his far-right and pro-Russian views, won 22.94% of the vote. He does not represent any political party, but managed to mobilize significant support through a social media campaign.
The second place went to the opposition candidate Elena Lasconi from the Romanian Salvation Union, and the third place went to the current Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.
During the election campaign, Georgescu announced his intention to stop the transit of Ukrainian grain through Romania and to curtail military aid to Ukraine.