Romanian prime minister Marcel Ciolacu, confirmed as president of the largest party in the future Parliament after the December 1 elections (Social Democratic Party, PSD), avoided voicing support for any of the candidates in the key presidential ballot where reformist Elena Lasconi (USR)

Romania's ruling Social Democratic Party was in the lead with 26% of the vote in the country's parliamentary elections, according to exit polls. Exit polls showed the PSD with 26% of the vote, ahead of the hard-right Alliance for the Unification of Romania on 19%.

Electoral data shows that a far-right populist has taken the lead in Romania’s presidential election and will likely face leftist Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu in a runoff in two weeks.

BUCHAREST - Romanian centrist and leftist parties looked to have fended off a surge by the nationalist right in Sunday's parliamentary election, as attention turned to a top court ruling later on Monday on whether to annul the results of a presidential vote.

Responsibility for the rise of the far right lies primarily with nominally “left” forces, who have adapted to nationalism and supported NATO’s war with Russia in Ukraine.

Romania's ruling leftist Social Democrats (PSD) looked set to win the most votes in a parliamentary election on Sunday, fending off a resurgent far-right movement that challenges the country's pro-Western orientation,

Romania's Constitutional Court on Monday validated the shock first-round result in its presidential election, setting the stage for a run-off vote on Dec. 8 that could upend the country's pro-Western orientation and erode backing for Ukraine.

After counting votes from over 99% of the commissions in Sunday's parliamentary elections in Romania, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) (22.7%) is in first place, and the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) (18%) is in second.