Romanian Court Annuls Presidential Election Results

Romania's Constitutional Court (CCR) has annulled the first round of the presidential election, citing alleged Russian interference and procedural issues, necessitating a complete restart of the electoral process. The decision, made just days before the scheduled runoff between far-right candidate Călin Georgescu and centrist pro-EU candidate Elena Lasconi, has been met with mixed reactions. Reports revealed that Georgescu's campaign may have been backed by foreign manipulation, particularly through social media, raising concerns over his sudden rise in popularity. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu endorsed the annulment, calling it a fair outcome amid evidence of interference, whereas Lasconi criticized the ruling as detrimental to democracy. The court's ruling means a new election date must be set, potentially delaying the process until spring 2025. Demonstrations have erupted in response to the court's decision, reflecting the public's division over the election outcome and geopolitical alignment.