INTERFERENCE:
The electoral process ‘was marred throughout its entire duration and at all stages by multiple irregularities and violations of electoral legislation,’ the court said
Romania’s constitutional court on Friday canceled the country’s presidential election following allegations of Russian interference in favor of the far-right frontrunner, just two days ahead of the run-off.
Pro-EU Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said he would stay in his post until a new government emerges from the legislative elections last weekend to set a new presidential election date.
The country’s authorities had objected after far-right outsider Calin Georgescu topped the election’s first round on Nov. 24, a shock result in the EU and NATO member bordering Ukraine.
Photo: Reuters
On Wednesday, the presidency declassified documents detailing allegations against Georgescu and Russia, including “massive” social media promotion and cyberattacks.
Based on this, the court said it unanimously decided to annul the entire electoral process to ensure its “correctness and legality.”
The process “was marred throughout its entire duration and at all stages by multiple irregularities and violations of electoral legislation that distorted the free and correct nature of the vote cast by citizens,” it said in its ruling.
“All these aspects had the converging effect of disregarding the essential principles of democratic elections,” it added.
Georgescu, a former senior civil servant, had been due to face centrist Campulung Mayor Elena Lasconi in today’s runoff.
“It is basically a formalized coup… Our democracy is under attack,” Georgescu, 62, said in a video message, calling on Romanians to “remain faithful to our common ideal.
“They will not be able to stop me. And they cannot stop the Romanian people from what they want to change,” he told local media.
Lasconi, a 52-year-old former journalist, also called the court’s decision “illegal, immoral… crushing the very essence of democracy.”
Fears had been raised that if Georgescu won, the country — whose strategic importance has increased since Moscow invaded Ukraine — would join the EU’s far-right bloc and undermine European unity against Russia.
Outgoing Romanian prime minister Marcel Ciolacu — who lost in the first round of presidential elections — hailed the decision as “the only correct solution.”
Anti-corruption prosecutors on Friday said they had opened an investigation into “illegal operations with computer devices or software.”
Prosecutors are already probing “possible violations of electoral legislation” and “money laundering offences”.
In documents drawn up for a security council meeting and published on Wednesday, authorities said data had “revealed an aggressive promotional campaign, in violation of electoral legislation.”
Last week, authorities condemned “preferential treatment” of Georgescu by TikTok, something the social media platform has denied.
The European Commission announced on Thursday it had stepped up monitoring of TikTok.
A separate intelligence services document stated that Romania was a “target for aggressive Russian hybrid actions,” including cyberattacks.
Friday’s decision to cancel the elections is “an unprecedented and historic decision,” political analyst Costin Ciobanu said.
It “deepens uncertainty and polarization within Romanian society, raising serious concerns about the strength of Romania’s institutions and democracy,” he added.
Georgescu shot into the limelight with his performance in the first round of voting.
Having praised Russian President Vladimir Putin in the past, he has more recently avoided answering questions about him being pro-Russian.
While the president’s post is largely ceremonial, the head-of-state has moral authority and influence on Romania’s foreign policy.
The president also designates the prime minister — a key role especially since legislative elections last weekend returned a fragmented parliament.
The governing pro-European Social Democrats won the vote, but far-right parties made strong gains, together securing a third of the ballots.
Since the 1989 fall of communism, Romania has not seen such a breakthrough by the far right, fueled by mounting anger over soaring inflation and fears over Russia’s war in neighboring Ukraine.