Romanian Constitutional Court annulled presidential elections due to alleged social media manipulation and unfair campaigning.
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The Romanian Constitutional Court annulled and postponed presidential elections scheduled for December 8th, citing violations of free competition, transparency, and fairness during the first round on November 24th, specifically mentioning manipulation via social media. The court’s justification stated that aggressive promotion bypassing laws and improper financing affected the equality of candidates’ opportunities. Current President Klaus Iohannis previously attributed interference in the first round to an external state actor, possibly Russia, through cyberattacks and systematic social media influence benefiting Călin Georgescu, the surprising winner of the first round who received 22.94% of the vote despite minimal physical campaigning. The annulled elections must be held again within two weeks according to law, but observers suggest they will likely take place in the spring, leaving Iohannis in office until then. Călin Georgescu has condemned the cancellation but urged his supporters’ patience, while facing parallel investigations for electoral law violations and money laundering. Meanwhile, parliamentary elections on December 1st saw a rise in far-right parties, with some opposition viewing the court’s decision as an attempt to steal the election, potentially benefiting the far right in future polls.
