Romania's unknown extremist candidate, Călin Georgescu, won the first round of elections all thanks to a massive TikTok campaign, raising concerns over foul play and prompting a request for an EU investigation.

The surprise first-round victory of political outsider Călin Georgescu in the first round of the presidential elections sent shockwaves throughout Romania and Europe, leading to Valérie Hayer, head of the liberal Renew Europe group,

The European Union’s sixth most populous country is grappling with a pressing question: how did an unknown far-right leader, running without the backing of any political party, manage to win the first round of the presidential elections?