### Recount Ordered in Romanian Presidential Election Following Far-Right Victory

The Constitutional Court of Romania has ordered a recount of the presidential election votes after a surprising win for far-right candidate Calin Georgescu in the first round. The court's decision came after Georgescu, who significantly rose in popularity during the campaign, garnered 22.9% of the vote, setting the stage for a runoff against centrist Elena Lasconi, who received over 19%.

The Romanian Constitutional Court announced its unanimous decision to reverify and recount the ballots for the November 24 presidential election, rejecting an attempt to annul the first-round results due to a late submission. This move follows widespread protests in Bucharest over the initial results.

Georgescu, who previously held minimal recognition and polled below 5% before the election, centered his campaign on traditional values appealing to rural voters and emphasized his Christian beliefs. He remains critical of Romania's NATO membership and has shown admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, which stands in stark contrast to his opponent Lasconi's pro-NATO stance and strong support for Ukraine.

The unexpected results have stirred political tension, with both candidates voicing concerns over the recount. Georgescu alleged that state institutions were undermining the electorate's decision, while Lasconi criticized the court's action as detrimental to the democratic process, urging the Central Election Bureau to handle the recount with strict adherence to the law.

Amid these developments, Romania's presidency has raised alarms about cyberattacks reportedly aiming to influence the election outcome and singled out social media platform TikTok for allegedly favoring Georgescu's campaign. Both the National Audiovisual Council and the presidency have called for an investigation into TikTok's role, though the company has denied any preferential treatment.

This unfolding electoral drama underscores the deep political divisions in Romania and the broader implications for its geopolitical positioning, especially concerning its relations with NATO and Russia. The results of the December 8 runoff will be closely watched both domestically and internationally.