Romanian court orders recount of presidential vote

(ANSA-AFP) - BUCHAREST, NOV 28 - Romania's constitutional court on Thursday ordered a recount of votes cast in the first round of the presidential election, after a rival far-right contender filed a legal challenge. One far-right candidate, Calin Georgescu, secured an unexpected lead in the vote on Sunday, knocking out Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. But a rival, EU parliament member Cristian Terhes, challenged the result, accusing another candidate of irregularities. In response, the court unanimously ordered a "recheck and recount of all ballots... in the elections for the office of president of Romania on November 24," it said in a statement. The ruling comes days before Romania holds high-stakes parliamentary elections on Sunday, with the presidential runoff to follow on December 8, amid fears they could herald a shift in its foreign policy. (ANSA-AFP).