Government cost cuts to curb Romania's chronic budget deficit and avert a ratings downgrade are causing a social backlash that risks boosting support for the far-right pro-Moscow candidate in May's presidential rerun.

Moscow’s demand during Riyadh talks rejected but allies fear Donald Trump could yet allow restoration of former Soviet bloc

More than 90 percent of churchgoers in Moldova, which lies between Ukraine and Romania, adhere to the Orthodox Church. The invasion, backed enthusiastically by Russia's Orthodox Church, has accelerated a move by parishes from Moldova's majority Moscow-linked Moldova Metropolis to the smaller Romania-linked church,

Government cost cuts to curb Romania's chronic budget deficit and avert a ratings downgrade are causing a social backlash that risks boosting support for the far-right pro-Moscow candidate in May's presidential rerun.

Romanian prosecutors have launched criminal proceedings against the pro-Russian candidate who won the first round of last year’s presidential election that was later cancelled due to alleged meddling by Moscow.

Georgescu has praised Romania's 1930s fascist leaders as patriots and martyrs and expressed admiration for both Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He remains voters' top choice in opinion polls ahead of the May rerun, although it remains unclear whether he will be allowed to run at all.

Government cost cuts to curb Romania's chronic budget deficit and avert a ratings downgrade are causing a social backlash that risks boosting support for the far-right pro-Moscow candidate in May's presidential rerun.

Romanian prosecutors opened a criminal probe Wednesday into far-right populist Calin Georgescu, whose surprise first-round win in December presidential elections prompted authorities to take the

Romanian prosecutors said on Wednesday they had launched a criminal investigation against Calin Georgescu, the far-right frontrunner in last year's cancelled presidential election, over several accusations including promoting antisemitism.

They just arrested the person who won the most votes in the Romanian presidential election. This is messed up.”

Moscow’s demand rejected by Washington but allies fear Trump could yet allow restoration of former Soviet bloc

Calin Georgescu, a far-right presidential candidate in Romania, has been taken in for questioning by police as part of an investigation into his campaign, which last year prompted the country’s constitutional court to cancel an election.