Romania Schedules New Presidential Elections for May

Romania's government has officially scheduled new presidential elections for May 4 and May 18, 2025, following the annulment of the previous election amidst allegations of Russian meddling. This decision was confirmed by government spokesman Mihai Constantin, who highlighted measures to ensure fair conditions for all candidates, including potential fines for social media platforms that favor specific candidates. The government is also allowing Romanians abroad three days to vote, with adjusted polling hours to avoid discrepancies in voting times. This announcement comes after protests from the far-right party Alliance for Uniting Romanians, which is seeking to reinstate their candidate, Calin Georgescu, who unexpectedly won the first round of the last election. The European Commission is investigating the alleged illegal campaign support that may have benefited Georgescu. Overall, the political atmosphere in Romania remains tense as the country prepares for these crucial elections.