Romanians are preparing to go to the polls in a parliamentary vote that will determine a new government and prime minister to lead the European Union and NATO member country.

Romania on Friday began recounting the votes from last week's dramatic first-round presidential election, amid concerns the ballot might be annulled as authorities pointed to Russia's influence and alleged interference via TikTok.

Romania could rerun its presidential election first round, a senior election official said on Friday, after an independent far-right politician came from nowhere to win a shock victory that caused suspicions of interference in the campaign.

A top court issued the ruling just days after an ultranationalist outsider unexpectedly won the most votes in the first round of presidential elections held Sunday.

Calin Georgescu, a critic of the EU and Nato, looks set to face the pro-Europe prime minister in the second round.

Calin Georgescu, who had been widely dismissed as a fringe candidate, won the most votes on Sunday with 22.9 percent. He will face a more centrist opponent in the second round on Dec. 8.

The first round of Romania's presidential polls produced a shock result that triggered suspicions of interference in the campaign. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Romania's presidential election first round could be rerun if the country's top court decides to annul the vote that took place on Nov. 24, the head of the country's electoral commission said on Friday.

A top Romanian court has asked the official electoral authority to recount and verify all of the ballots cast in the first round of the presidential election

Romania's top court on Friday postponed a decision on whether to annul the first round of a presidential election until Dec. 2, after a shock result caused suspicions of interference in the campaign.