Georgescu, extremely religious and nationalistic, campaigned on reducing Romania’s reliance on imports, supporting farmers, and increasing domestic production of food and energy.
He has also argued that the EU and NATO do not properly represent Romanian interests and claimed Russia’s war in Ukraine, a Romanian neighbor, is manipulated by American military companies.
A little-known university professor who leveraged TikTok to rally voters around him, Georgescu has drawn fierce criticism for his previous comments supporting Romania’s 20th Century fascist Legionary Movement.
Turnout across the country and the Romanian diaspora was 52.5 percent, slightly above the 51.2 percent who voted in the previous presidential election in 2019.
The second round is set for Dec. 8 following Romania’s parliamentary election next Sunday.
This story is being updated.
