European Court Rejects Romanian Far-Right Candidate's Election Appeal

The European Court of Human Rights has dismissed an appeal from Romanian far-right presidential candidate Calin Georgescu to overturn the annulment of the December 2024 presidential election, which was attributed to alleged Russian interference. Despite his popularity in the first round of voting, the Romanian Constitutional Court annulled the election due to concerns over foreign influence, particularly from Russia, which Georgescu has denied being connected to. The ECHR ruled that Georgescu's request for an urgent ruling did not demonstrate an imminent risk of irreparable harm, leading to protests from his supporters. A new election is scheduled for May 4, with a potential runoff on May 18, where Georgescu remains a leading candidate according to recent polls. Critics have condemned the annulment as a threat to democracy, reflecting broader concerns about the integrity of Romania's electoral process. As the political landscape evolves, the scrutiny of social media's role in elections continues, particularly following Georgescu's rise to prominence on platforms like TikTok.