Romanian Court Cancels Presidential Election Round

The Romanian Constitutional Court has annulled the first round of the presidential elections, which took place on November 24, due to revelations of Russian interference aimed at promoting ultranationalist candidate Călin Georgescu. This decision, made just two days before the scheduled runoff against pro-EU candidate Elena Lasconi, mandates a complete restart of the electoral process, including new candidate registrations. The court's ruling followed declassified intelligence documents indicating that Russian hybrid tactics, including the creation of over 25,000 fake TikTok accounts, played a significant role in Georgescu's unexpected rise in popularity. In light of these developments, the government is tasked with establishing a new election date and ensuring compliance with electoral procedures. The court's intervention reflects heightened concerns over foreign influence on Romania's democratic processes and sparked large-scale protests against Georgescu's candidacy, known for his anti-Western sentiments. The political landscape in Romania is now in a state of uncertainty as the electoral timeline resets and public scrutiny intensifies.