Romania's top security body will meet on Thursday to discuss possible risks to the country and its electoral process stemming from social media, the president's office said, after the far-right's shock win in the first round of a presidential ballot.

Calin Georgescu, who had been widely dismissed as a fringe candidate, won the most votes on Sunday with 22.9 percent. He will face a more centrist opponent in the second round on Dec. 8.

Calin Georgescu’s surprise victory means the current pro-West prime minister will not make it to the election runoff.

Romania is reeling after a little-known, far-right populist secured the first round in the presidential election

A hard-right critic of NATO who has praised Russia is set to face a centre-right opposition leader in a presidential election run-off in Romania that could undermine its pro-Western stance after a shock outcome in the first-round vote.

Calin Georgescu takes shock lead in Romania’s presidential election A far-right, pro-Russia candidate has won the first round of Romania’s presidential elections. Calin Georgescu has defied the polls and surprised the political establishment.

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.