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.

Romania's presidential election first round could be rerun if the country's top court decides to annul the vote that took place on Nov. 24, the head of the country's electoral commission said on Friday.

The winner of the first round of the presidential elections in Romania, anti-Western and far-right candidate Călin Georgescu, announced that state institutions are attempting to invalidate the choice of the citizens.

Romania's Constitutional Court mandated a recount of ballots from the first round of the presidential election. Calin Georgescu, a far-right populist, surprisingly led the first round, surpassing the incumbent prime minister.

Romania’s Constitutional Court ordered a recount of all the votes in the first round of the presidential election, which was won by a little-known pro-Russian candidate, deepening the political crisis in the country.

The surprise far-right winner of the first round of Romania's presidential election has denied he wants to leave NATO and the European Union, appearing to roll back some of his positions amid protests over his victory.

Romania's constitutional court on Thursday ordered a recount of votes cast in the first round of presidential elections after far-right, pro-Russia candidate Calin Georgescu took a surprising lead after polling in the single digits before the vote.