BUCHAREST - The leadership of Romania's far-right AUR party decided to back pro-Russian independent candidate Călin Georgescu despite differences on key issues like NATO bases in Romania.

Romania’s largest opposition party threw its support behind the poll-leading pro-Russian politician whose shock victory in last year’s presidential election prompted authorities to invalidate the result.

Thousands of flag-waving Romanians protested outside parliament on Friday against the annulment of presidential elections, where an obscure far-right candidate had been the front-runner amid claims of Russian interference.

Călin Georgescu, an independent far-right candidate with pro-Russian sympathies, surprisingly won the first round of the presidential election on 24 November. In response, Romania's Constitutional Court decided to annul the first round of the presidential election and order a full rerun, preventing the run-off from taking place.

Tens of thousands of Romanians marched in Bucharest on Sunday, demanding the reinstatement of the presidential election and the resignation of outgoing President Klaus Iohannis. The outcry follows a controversial

Romanian far-right presidential election candidate Calin Georgescu delivers a press statement at the Bucharest Court of Appeal, in Bucharest, Romania, December 19, 2024. Inquam Photos/Octav Ganea via REUTERS/File Photo BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romanian far-right pro-Russian presidential candidate Calin Georgescu remained voters' top choice ahead of a re-run of a presidential election in May,