Romania to Hold Fresh Presidential Election in May Following Controversial Vote Cancellation
The first round of voting will take place on May 4, with a second round scheduled for May 18 if no candidate secures more than 50 percent of the vote in the initial round.
Bucharest, Romania – Romania has announced that it will hold a new presidential election in May, following the annulment of the December vote amid claims of foreign interference, particularly from Russia. The decision comes after a cabinet meeting on Thursday approved the ruling party's proposal for a fresh election process
The country, a member of both the European Union and NATO, was thrown into political turmoil after a controversial result in the initial presidential vote. On November 24, 2023, little-known far-right politician Calin Georgescu, who has pro-Russian leanings, won the first round of voting. However, Romanian officials claimed Georgescu benefited from a massive social media campaign, particularly on TikTok, which allegedly gave him undue visibility and support. The platform has denied the accusations.
Amid growing concerns of Russian interference, which Moscow has denied, Romania's top court annulled the results of the first round, citing irregularities. The court ruled that a new, full presidential election must be held.
The European Commission has since launched formal proceedings against TikTok, accusing the platform of failing to adequately address election interference.
Georgescu, who has denounced the annulment as a "formalised coup d'état," has been a vocal critic of the decision. His supporters, particularly from the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) party, took to the streets in Bucharest last Sunday, demanding the resignation of President Klaus Iohannis. Iohannis, a liberal, remains in office until his successor is elected.
In response to the controversy, the government, led by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, introduced new regulations ahead of the upcoming election. Campaign materials will be required to clearly indicate their political content, with sponsors also identified. Social media platforms will be held accountable, with a five-hour deadline to remove non-compliant content or face fines ranging from 1 to 5 percent of their annual turnover.
However, Romanian rights groups have criticized the government's decision to introduce these measures without public consultation. They argue that the new rules fail to address more significant issues, such as campaign financing, and do not provide a comprehensive solution to election integrity concerns.
As Romania prepares for its second presidential vote within six months, tensions continue to run high, with the election process under intense scrutiny both domestically and internationally.