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E-mail Xinhua, November 25, 2024
BUCHAREST, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Independent candidate Calin Georgescu and Elena Lasconi, leader of the Save Romania Union, will face off in the second round of Romania's 2024 presidential election on Dec. 8 as no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the ballots, according to complete results from the Permanent Electoral Authority.
In the first round, Georgescu leads with 22.94 percent of the vote, while Lasconi secured the second place with 19.18 percent, narrowly edging out Prime Minister and Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader Marcel Ciolacu by 2,742 votes. The presidential election was held on Sunday, involving 14 candidates.
Ciolacu extended his congratulations to the two candidates, saying that his party would not contest the results.
Georgescu had gained momentum with his independent campaign. Born in Bucharest on March 26, 1962, Georgescu is an agronomist with a doctorate in soil science from the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine.
His platform focuses on promoting economic and ecological self-sufficiency, empowering farmers, and reducing reliance on imports.
Lasconi, 52, had been a journalist and now serves as the mayor of Campulung. Earlier this year, she was elected president of Save Romania Union, a center-right political force in Romania.
She described the election results as a rejection of the ruling PSD-PNL coalition, calling for a new parliamentary majority to reform Romania. Romania will also hold parliamentary elections on Dec. 1 that will determine the country's next government and prime minister.
Romania's budget deficit, high inflation, and economic slowdown may drive mainstream candidates toward populist rhetoric to appeal to the dissatisfied voters, noted Cristian Andrei, a Bucharest-based political consultant.
Romania's president serves a five-year term, with a maximum of two consecutive terms allowed, and has significant decision-making powers in areas including defence spending, national security, foreign policy and judicial appointments. Enditem
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