Far-right presidential candidate Calin Georgescu has accused the country's authorities of deliberately canceling the election to thwart his path to victory.
Standing resolutely outside a closed polling station in Mogosoaia, near Bucharest, Georgescu declared his presence was "in the name of democracy," as he protested against the Constitutional Court's decision to annul the first round of voting.
The court's unprecedented move came after declassified intelligence reports alleged that Russia orchestrated an extensive social media campaign to bolster Georgescu's candidacy. The court cited the illegal use of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, and undeclared sources of funding as reasons for the annulment. It noted that one candidate received "preferential treatment" on social media platforms, which distorted the voters' expressed will.
Georgescu, who emerged as the frontrunner in the initial round held on November 24, was set to face reformist Elena Lasconi of the Save Romania Union party in a runoff. Despite being an outsider with no declared campaign spending, Georgescu's unexpected success left many political observers puzzled, as pre-election surveys had placed him behind at least five other candidates.
His rise to prominence has been largely attributed to his TikTok account, which boasts 6.2 million likes and 565,000 followers. However, some experts suspect that his online following may have been artificially inflated. Romanian security bodies have alleged that Georgescu received preferential treatment from TikTok over other candidates.
Romanian prosecutors have conducted raids in Brasov, targeting properties linked to Bogdan Peschir, who is suspected of illegally financing Georgescu's campaign. The raids were based on suspicions of voter corruption, money laundering, and cyber fraud. Intelligence authorities claim that Peschir paid $381,000 to TikTok users to promote Georgescu's content, although there is no clear link between Peschir and the alleged Russian interference.
Elena Lasconi, Georgescu's would-be opponent, also condemned the court's decision, labeling it "illegal, immoral, and crushing the very essence of democracy." She argued that the second round should have proceeded as planned.
As Romania grapples with this electoral controversy, President Klaus Iohannis emphasized the importance of upholding democratic values. In a statement marking Constitution Day, he urged state institutions to act with "calm, wisdom, and respect for the law, the Constitution, and democracy."
The annulment of the election has sparked widespread debate and criticism, with George Simion, leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, calling it an attack on democracy. He urged President Iohannis to "respect the Constitution, not mock it."
New dates are expected to be set for rerunning the presidential vote from scratch, as Romania navigates through this turbulent political period.
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