Călin Georgescu, who is likely to emerge as the surprise winner of the first round in Romania’s presidential elections, is an environmental expert and politician with strong nationalistic views. Born on March 26,

Who is Georgescu? The 62-year-old previously studied at the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine in Bucharest and the city's National Defence College. He worke

In Romania’s presidential election, ultra-nationalist candidate Călin Georgescu is leading, with current Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu in second place, according to the Central Electoral Bureau of Romania.

Elena Lasconi, leader of the USR (Save Romania Union) pushed ahead, ousting Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who was a clear favourite to win the first round.

Romania’s Central Election Commission has tallied 96% of the votes, showing Georgescu with 22% and Ciolacu with 20%. Read also: Romania investigates presidential candidate for ties with Russian intelligence Final results from the first round will be announced on Nov.

Most polls predicted Calin Georgescu to win less than 10% of the vote in the first round of Romania's presidential election. However, the 62-year-old obscure far-right populist shook the country's political landscape by clinching the most votes and advancing to the second round to face off against reformist Elena Lasconi of the progressive Save Romania Union party.

Georgescu, 62, was a member of the hard-right opposition Alliance for Uniting Romanians (AUR), which touted him as their choice for prime minister. He left AUR in 2022 after senior party members said his pro-Russian,

The pro-Russian nationalist candidate Calin Georgescu had racked up a definitive 350,000 vote lead in an upset in Romania's presidential election as counting in the first round wound to a finish Monday.