The Romanian Constitutional Court on Friday annulled the presidential election two days before the second round, the latest twist in a chaotic process troubled by suspicions of Russian interference in favor of the far-right candidate.
The court decided to“cancel all” of the ballot in order to “ensure its validity and legality” and asks that “the entire electoral process” is starting again, according to a press release which plunged the Eastern European country into shock.
“The government will set a new date” subsequently, clarified the Court, which had nevertheless validated the results earlier in the week after a recount of the votes from the first round which concluded that there was no fraud.
But in the meantime the authorities have declassified documents from the intelligence services supporting the accusations about the role « massif » of TikTok in the campaign, with Russia in the viewfinder.
In the first round, the nationalist candidate Calin Georgescu came out on top to everyone’s surprise, sweeping aside the favorites in the ranks of the government parties.
Critic of the EU and NATO, this 62-year-old former senior official declared again Friday in the media in favor of a total cessation of military aid to neighboring Ukraine.
While he has in the past expressed his admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, he has recently avoided taking a clear position, only indicating that he is “proroumain”.
Call to ” calm “
Coming out of nowhere after a viral campaign on TikTok, he had to face the pro-European centrist Elena Lasconi, also self-proclaimed “anti-system” and who was rising in the polls, garnering support.
She has “strongly condemned” the “illegal decision” of a “Romanian state flouting democracy” et “leading the country to anarchy”estimating in a video that “the vote should have taken place”.
Romania: results of the legislative elections / Jonathan WALTER, Sabrina BLANCHARD / AFP
The leader of the main far-right AUR party, George Simion, denounced a decision “politically motivated”, “annulling the will of the Romanian people” while calling on his supporters to calm down, because “the system must fall democratically”.
According to political scientist Costin Ciobanu, this cancellation “historic and unprecedented” va “polarize” even more society and “raises serious questions about the strength of institutions”.
Conversely, Social Democratic Prime Minister Marcel Ciolanu, the big loser in the first round, welcomed the “only good solution after declassification” Wednesday of documents showing a result “distorted by Russian intervention”.
“Coup d’état”
Political science professor Sergiou Miscoiu also believes that the Court’s unanimous decision is dictated by the « conviction » judges that “the elections were falsified, which is true”.
As for analyst Cristian Pirvulescu, he spoke to AFP “a common sense decision” facing “a coup d’état at the polls”. “They have made the decision that will finally restore a level playing field between competitors”he estimated.
The message “Romania first” by Mr. Georgescu found his audience among a part of the population, tired of traditional parties seen as corrupt and faced with economic difficulties, in one of the poorest countries in Europe.
An electoral sign in the village of Mihai Viteazu, Romania, December 4, 2024 / Daniel MIHAILESCU / AFP
But a follower of conspiracy theories and an admirer of Donald Trump, he especially benefited on social networks from a “aggressive promotional campaign, in violation of electoral law”according to authorities.
They draw parallels with previous efforts at Russian election interference in Europe.
The secret services have identified « 25.000 accounts TikTok » directly associated with the campaign of the nationalist candidate and became “extremely active two weeks before the election date”according to these documents.
Romania has also detected more than 85,000 cyberattacks, “including election day”launched from around thirty countries “and exploiting the vulnerabilities of electoral computer systems” to destabilize the process.
Two investigations have been opened into electoral offenses and money laundering, notably by the anti-corruption prosecutor.
