Pro-Russian candidate takes lead in first round of presidential election in Romania

In a shock development, independent far-right, pro-Russia candidate Calin Georgescu took the lead in the first round of the presidential election in Romania with 22.94% of the votes, in a voter turnout of over 52%. No opinion polls prior to the election considered Georgescu as a serious contender. Second, with 19.18%, comes Elena Lasconi, mayor of Campulung and leader of the centre-right Save Romania Union. The Prime Minister of Romania Marcel Ciolacu was left in third position with 19.15%, and resigned as leader of the Social Democratic Party. Fourth is George Simion of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians, fifth – former PM Nicolae Ciuca of the National Liberal Party, and sixth - Mircea Geoana, former deputy secretary general of NATO who ran as independent candidate. The presidential candidates who came first and second will vie at a second round. 

Calin Georgescu is known for his pro-Russian, anti-NATO and antisemitic leanings, and with his position against assistance for Ukraine. An agricultural engineer by education, he is proposing reducing Romania’s dependence on imports, support for farmers and increasing local production. The economic measures he is touting include reallocation of EU funds towards small-scale farmers and stimulating the free association of farmers in cooperatives, Radio Romania International writes.  
Today, the Constitutional Court in Romania is to consider two applications for the annulment of the results of the first round. The first is over the fact that Calin Georgescu declared zero spending for his election campaign, despite the massive campaigning on social media. The second is over electioneering during the election by Elena Lasconi’s Save Romania Union.
The second round of the presidential election is on 8 December. Elections for parliament will be held in Romania on 1 December.

Türkiye wants derogation from US sanctions so as to pay for Russian gas via Gazprombank

Türkiye is conducting negotiations with the US for an exemption from the US sanctions so that it can pay for the Russian natural gas it is importing via the Russian Gazprombank, Minister of Energy Alparslan Bayraktar told reporters. Last week, the US announced it was putting sanctions in place against Russia’s Gazprombank, which was not previously part of the package of economic sanctions connected with Russia’s war against Ukraine. Russia is Türkiye’s biggest supplier of gas, providing around 42% of imports last year, according to data of the Turkish regulatory body. Ankara and Moscow plan to create a natural gas hub in Türkiye, including for laying more underwater pipelines across the Black Sea.

44 people detained after protest by Albanian opposition

A total of 44 people have been detained after a protest by the Albanian opposition in Tirana this week, which led to physical clashes, the Bulgarian news agency BTA reports. The opposition, with the Democratic Party of former prime minister and former president Sali Berisha at its head, blocked off five crucial junctions in Tirana for three hours, as an element of the civil disobedience against the Socialist Party, declared by the Democratic Party. The protesters are accusing the government of PM Edi Rama of corruption, nepotism, election manipulation and usurping the powers of the judiciary, and are demand it be replaced by a caretaker cabinet until the election for parliament in 2025.

Slovenian town of Celje crowned European Christmas City 2025

Slovenia’s fourth biggest city – Celje – has been declared European Christmas city for 2025 by the European Christmas City Network, public service TV BNT reports. Every December, Fairytale Celje brings a magical, festive experience with shows and markets. This year, the Christmas lights will be lit in the city on 30 November. This year’s events include: Christmas Market: A treasure trove of gifts with fairy houses and a Piškotarna – a fairytale cookie workshop with various craftsmen, a winter medieval day at Celje Castle etc.

The European Christmas City Network is an organization supported by the European Parliament which aims to promote the cultural European diversity values and especially the different and varied Christmas traditions in Europe. Every year it announces the three top festive destinations. Celje won the title among the towns with a population of 10,000-100,000.

Compiled by Miglena Ivanova
Translated and posted by Milena Daynova
Photos: BGNES, Reuters, slovenia.info