Constitutional Court in Romania Annuls Presidential Election

Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled the presidential election on Friday, just two days before the second round, marking another chaotic chapter plagued by suspicions of Russian interference in favor of a far-right candidate.

In a statement reported by Agence France-Presse, the court said it was “annulling the entire process of electing a Romanian president” to ensure the “validity and legality” of the vote and requested that the “electoral process” restart. In the first round, nationalist candidate Călin Georgescu led the results, causing a major shock.

The court added that the government would set a new date for the election later, after previously certifying the first-round results earlier in the week, following a recount.

Meanwhile, authorities declassified intelligence documents supporting allegations of a significant role played by TikTok in campaigning for Georgescu, suggesting Russian involvement. In the first round, Georgescu, a nationalist candidate, defeated frontrunners from established ruling parties.

Georgescu, a former high-ranking official, has long advocated for a complete cessation of military aid to neighboring Ukraine. He regularly criticizes the European Union and NATO. Although he has previously expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, he has recently avoided taking a clear stance on him.