Romania's political future looked uncertain Monday after legislative elections produced a fragmented parliament, with the far right making big gains a week before the second round of a presidential election in which a pro-Russian candidate is in pole position.

The first round of Romania's presidential election brought unprecedented turmoil following allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference.

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’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.

Their gains in a campaign dominated by voters' concerns over budget problems and the cost of living could upend Romania's pro-Western orientation and undermine support for Ukraine.

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.

Romanians cast ballots Sunday in a parliamentary election sandwiched between a two-round presidential race, the first of which has plunged the European Union and NATO member into unprecedented turmoil following allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference.

Romanians vote in a parliamentary election on Sunday, one week after an independent far-right candidate won the most votes in the first round of a presidential election, a result now under review by the country's top court.

Romanians are casting ballots in a parliamentary election on Sunday sandwiched between a two-round presidential race, the first round of which has plunged the European Union and NATO member country into unprecedented turmoil following allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference.

Still reeling from this week's shock developments, Romanians returned to the polls on Sunday (December 1) to elect their parliament, with the far right tipped to win, potentially heralding a shift in the NATO country's foreign policy.

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.