Tens of Thousands Protest in Romania Ahead of Election Rerun

Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in Bucharest, Romania, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu and the reinstatement of the annulled presidential election results, which favored far-right candidate Calin Georgescu. The protests were organized by the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) following a controversial decision by the Constitutional Court to annul the December election results due to alleged irregularities. Demonstrators voiced strong feelings of disenfranchisement, accusing the government of corruption and calling for a return to democratic processes. Amidst rising tensions, Romanian prosecutors have launched an investigation against Georgescu, accusing him of inciting actions against the constitutional order. The political climate remains charged, with allegations of electoral violations and potential Russian interference surfacing. As protests continue, the situation reflects deep divisions within Romanian society regarding governance and electoral integrity.