### Romanian Court Orders Recount of Presidential Election Ballots

BUCHAREST, Romania – The Constitutional Court of Romania has mandated an extensive recount and verification process for the ballots of the recent presidential election's first round. The decision, which is definitive, follows a surprising victory by a far-right outsider candidate that has disrupted the political landscape.

The Central Election Bureau promptly complied with the court’s directive, stating that over 9.4 million ballots would undergo scrutiny. According to the Bureau, the scanned reports must be submitted by late Sunday, and the physical ballots are required by Tuesday for the recount process to start.

Calin Georgescu, an independent candidate known for his far-right populist views, outpaced the incumbent prime minister during the initial round. Georgescu’s win set the stage for a runoff against Elena Lasconi, leader of the Save Romania Union party, on December 8.

Georgescu's unexpected success has sparked nightly demonstrations from the public, who are alarmed by his previous commendations of controversial Romanian fascist and nationalist figures, as well as his favorable comments about Russian President Vladimir Putin. Protesters argue that Georgescu's ascendance represents a significant threat to the nation's democratic values.