People pass by electoral posters with candidates for the presidential and parliamentary elections in Bucharest on November 22, 2024. Far-right, pro-Russia independent candidate Calin Georgescu won 22.94% of the vote in Romania's presidential election on Sunday, securing an unexpected lead in the first round but falling short of the 50% needed for an outright victory, partial official results indicated on Monday morning. Another far-right candidate, populist nationalist Alliance for Uniting Romanians (AUR) leader George Simion, placed fourth after winning 13.87% of the votes. She was the only leading candidate in the first round in favour of civil unions for same-sex couples, but she opposes same-sex marriage. Voter turnout in the first round of the presidential election was 52.55%.

---

Persons: Calin Georgescu, Elena Lasconi, Georgescu, Marcel Ciolacu, George Simion, Nicolae Ciuca, Mircea Geoana, Georgescu's Organizations: NATO, Save Romania, Social Democrat Party, PSD, Alliance, Uniting, National Liberal Party, PNL, EU Locations: Bucharest, Russia, AEP, Ukraine, Campulung