Exit polls in Romania indicated a major upset in the first round of presidential elections, putting progressive Elena Lasconi on course for a runoff with the incumbent center-left Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu in two weeks time.

Two exit polls showed Ms.Lasconi,52, in second place with about 18% of the vote. Mr. Ciolacu of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) came first as expected with about 25%  of the vote, the two polls showed.

The exit polls did not show the votes from Romania’s overseas voters, however, which could change the percentages.

Ms Lasconi, the leader of the Save Romania Union (USR), advocates for a progressive and reform-oriented agenda prioritizing transparency, anti-corruption measures, and social justice.

“Today’s vote is a slap against the government(Social Democrats and Liberals).Hope is alive in Romania,” she said after exit polls were released.

Her breakthough is a first for the small-town mayor who has little experience of top level politics. She could potentially become Romania’s first  woman president.

Far-right candidate George Simion of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) was expected to make the second round, but appeared to come fourth, losing the third place to another pro-Russian candidate, Calin  Georgescu.

Other hopefuls including Mircea Geoană, an independent and former NATO Deputy Secretary General came sixth with 5%. Nicolae Ciucă, representing the National Liberal Party (PNL) and a former Prime Minister was in fourth place with between 13 and 14% depending on the polls. In a field of 13, none polled above 25%.

Some 9.41 million_or about 52% of the electorate cast their vote one hours before polls closed.

One opinion poll was carried out by CURS, and another jointly released by Avangarde and CIRA