Romania Court Orders a Recount After Surprise Election Result

Political turmoil deepened in Romania on Thursday after the country’s top court called for a recount of all the ballots cast in the first round of a presidential election, just days after a little-known ultranationalist won the most votes.

Calin Georgescu — an often pro-Russia candidate who had been dismissed before the election as an extremist with no chance of winning — garnered 22.9 percent of the votes. Analysts credited his use of TikTok and other social media for his strong showing.

Mr. Georgescu is set to face Elena Lasconi, a centrist mayor and former journalist, in a runoff on Dec. 8. She won 19.2 percent of the vote, slightly more than Marcel Ciolacu, the center-left prime minister.

The recount may disrupt the runoff. If the first-round results are not certified, Romania cannot move on to the second round.

The Constitutional Court of Romania considered the case because Cristian Vasile Terhes, one of the presidential candidates, made a complaint, alleging irregularities.

The Supreme Council of National Defense, which oversees national security, said in a statement on Thursday that there had been “cyberattacks” aimed at undermining the voting process in Romania — a NATO member that shares borders with Ukraine — as well as social cohesion. The council is headed by President Klaus Iohannis and includes the prime minister and other senior members of the government.