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.

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.

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

The military deadlock, fatigue of public opinion and fear of escalation are all working in Moscow's favor, to the detriment of Europe, at a time when the latter is being abandoned by its American ally.

CHISINAU (Reuters) - Moldova's government, a fierce critic of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, appealed to the country's clergy on Sunday to "tell the truth" about the war, saying that Moscow's military actions had destroyed some 500 places of worship.

Romania's three opposition far-right parties filed a motion of no confidence in the pro-European coalition government on Tuesday, a move likely to fail but also to boost the parties' public profile ahead of a re-run presidential election.

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.