A top Romanian court has validated the first round of a presidential race in which a far-right outsider emerged as the frontrunner, plunging the country into a week of turmoil amid allegations of electoral violations and Russian meddling.

Romania's Constitutional Court on Monday validated the shock first-round result in the country's presidential election, setting the stage for a run-off vote on Dec. 8 that could upend its pro-Western orientation and undermine backing for Ukraine.

Romania’s ruling leftist Social Democrats (PSD) looked set to win the most votes in a parliamentary election on Sunday, defeating a resurgent far-Right movement challenging the country’s pro-Western orientation,