Romania's top court orders presidential election recount

Romania's top court ordered a vote recount in the first round of the presidential election, it said on Thursday, in a ruling observers said risked tarnishing the credibility of state institutions ahead of two more ballots.

The Constitutional Court "unanimously ordered the re-verification and recounting of the voting ballots for the November 24 presidential election," it said in a statement.

Having polled in single digits before Sunday's vote, independent far-right politician Calin Georgescu, 62, surged to a victory that raised questions over how such a surprise had been possible in the European Union and Nato member state.

The decision adds to the turmoil surrounding the electoral process in Romania, which is scheduled to hold three ballots in as many weeks, votes which are crucial to the direction of a country that has been pro-Western and a staunch ally of Ukraine.

Georgescu has previously praised 1930s Romanian fascist politicians as national heroes and martyrs, has been critical of Nato and Romania's stance on Ukraine, and has said the country should engage, not challenge Russia.

He is due to face centrist contender Elena Lasconi in a run-off on December 8. Meanwhile a parliamentary election is scheduled for Sunday.

'Backstage games'

Lasconi condemned the Constitutional Court's decision in a post on her social media accounts.

"The Constitutional Court is interfering in the democratic process for the second time," she wrote, referring to a previous court decision to ban a far-right politician from running in the presidential election. "One combats extremism through votes, not backstage games."

In October, the Constitutional Court banned a far-right politician from running in the presidential election in a ruling analysts, civil rights groups and some parties said overstepped its powers

The country's top security body meets on Thursday to discuss potential national security risks stemming from cyber state and non-state entities.