BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A top Romanian court on Monday validated the first round of a presidential race in which a far-right outsider emerged as the frontrunner, plunging the country into turmoil amid allegations of electoral violations and Russian meddling.

Far-right political outsider Calin Georgescu's surprise success has raised fears in the West that it could herald a shift in the foreign policy of the NATO country bordering Ukraine.

Romanians are voting in a parliamentary election sandwiched between a two-round presidential race. The first round plunged the European Union and NATO member country into unprecedented turmoil following allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference.

Romania’s top court validated the outcome of a key presidential vote, approving the candidacy of a pro-Russian candidate for a runoff with high geopolitical stakes for the nation on NATO’s eastern flank.

The ruling center-left Social Democratic Party (PSD) has won Romania's parliamentary elections, one week after a shock victory of a far-right candidate in the first round of the country's presidential election.

Romanian centrist and leftist parties looked to have fended off a surge by the nationalist right in Sunday's parliamentary election, as attention turned to a top court ruling later on Monday on whether to annul the results of a presidential vote.

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.

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 on Friday postponed a decision on whether to annul the result of the first round of a presidential election until Dec. 2, after a shock result that caused suspicions of interference in the campaign.

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.