BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Romania's political landscape is reeling after a little-known, far-right populist secured the first round in the presidential election, going from an obscure candidate to beating the incumbent prime minister. Calin Georgescu, who ran independently, will face off against reformist Elena Lasconi in a Dec. 8. runoff.

BUCHAREST - Independent candidate Calin Georgescu maintains a commanding lead in Romania's presidential election with 22.84 percent of the vote, according to near-complete results from Romania's Permanent Electoral Authority, with over 99.5 percent of ballots counted.