Romania Annuls Election Over Russian Interference

Romania's Constitutional Court annulled the presidential election results amid allegations of Russian interference, marking it as the first country to overturn election results due to foreign meddling via social media. Declassified intelligence reports revealed a coordinated campaign promoting far-right candidate Calin Georgescu on platforms like TikTok, with suspicions of artificially inflated online support. Romanian authorities conducted raids related to illegal campaign financing linked to Georgescu, raising concerns of voter corruption and cyber fraud. Georgescu and his supporters labeled the annulment a 'formalized coup,' sparking controversy and criticism that it undermines democracy. President Klaus Iohannis will remain in office until a new election is organized, as investigations into the alleged foreign influence continue. The United States has expressed support for Romania's democratic processes, emphasizing the importance of free and fair elections devoid of foreign interference.