BUCHAREST, Romania — Romania’s Constitutional Court on Friday, December 6, 2024, annulled the first round of the country’s presidential election, following allegations of Russian interference through a coordinated online campaign to support the far-right candidate Calin Georgescu.
The court’s landmark decision, which is final, came two days after President Klaus Iohannis declassified intelligence from multiple Romanian agencies alleging a widespread disinformation campaign conducted via platforms like TikTok and Telegram.
The annulment requires the first round of voting, held on 24 November, to be rerun at a yet-to-be-determined date.
The intelligence, sourced from the Romanian Intelligence Service, the Foreign Intelligence Service, the Special Telecommunication Service, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, claimed that thousands of social media accounts promoted Georgescu, who declared zero campaign spending but emerged as the frontrunner.
Georgescu’s rapid rise has confounded political observers, as pre-election polls placed him far behind at least five other candidates.
The court’s decision also interrupted preparations for the planned runoff election this Sunday between Georgescu and Elena Lasconi a reformist candidate from the Save Romania Union party.
Polarising Reactions to the Court’s Decision
Lasconi condemned the annulment as an attack on democracy. “We should have moved forward with the vote,” she said.
“We should have respected the will of the Romanian people. Whether we like it or not, from a legal and legitimate standpoint, 9 million Romanian citizens, both in the country and the diaspora, expressed their preference for a particular candidate through their votes. We cannot ignore their will!”
The reformist candidate pledged to continue her campaign.
“I know I would have won. And I will win because the Romanian people know I will fight for them, that I will unite them for a better Romania. I will defend our democracy. I will not give up.”
She argued that addressing allegations of Russian interference should have been postponed until after the election.
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, however, supported the court’s decision, describing it as “the only correct solution” in light of the evidence presented.
“The presidential elections must be held again,” Ciolacu stated on Facebook.
“At the same time, investigations by the authorities must uncover who is responsible for the massive attempt to influence the outcome of the presidential election.”
Concerns of Democratic Stability
The annulment follows an already fraught electoral process.
Last week, the Constitutional Court ordered a recount of first-round votes, adding to tensions.
Many observers warned that Friday’s decision could fuel civil unrest, but George Simion, leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, urged restraint.
“This is a coup d’état in full swing,” Simion claimed, “but we don’t let ourselves be provoked. This system has to fall democratically.”
Cristian Andrei, a Bucharest-based political consultant, described the annulment as a “crisis mode situation for the Romanian democracy.”
“In light of the information about the external interference, the massive interference in elections, I think this was not normal but predictable,” Andrei said.
“The problem is here: do we have the institutions to manage such an interference in the future?”
Social Media’s Role Under Scrutiny
Georgescu’s social media presence, particularly on TikTok, has come under intense scrutiny.
His account boasts over 6 million likes and 541,000 followers, a level of engagement security experts suspect was artificially boosted.
In the intelligence release, authorities alleged that a single TikTok user spent €361,000 ($381,000) to amplify Georgescu’s content, which they described as part of an “aggressive promotion campaign” to accelerate his popularity.
When asked about TikTok’s potential threat to democracy, Georgescu avoided addressing the allegations directly.
“The most important existing function for promoting free speech and freedom of expression is social media,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
What Lies Ahead
Romania’s political landscape remains in turmoil.
The president, elected to a five-year term, wields significant influence over national security, foreign policy, and judicial appointments, making the stakes of the election particularly high.
With the court’s decision forcing a reset of the first-round vote, both candidates and voters face uncertainty.
Amid allegations of foreign interference and democratic backsliding, the re-run will serve as a critical test for Romania’s institutions and its standing as a European Union and NATO member.
