Romania's Constitutional Court Annuls Presidential Election Results
Romania's Constitutional Court has annulled the results of the first round of the 2024 presidential election, which was narrowly won by far-right candidate Călin Georgescu. This decision, announced on December 6, 2024, comes amid serious allegations of Russian interference in the electoral process, including a significant campaign of misinformation and cyberattacks aimed at influencing voters. The annulment means that the scheduled run-off vote against centrist candidate Elena Lasconi will no longer take place, and new elections will be organized by the Romanian government at a later date.
The court's ruling is based on Article 146 (f) of the Romanian Constitution, which emphasizes the necessity of ensuring the legality and correctness of electoral processes. This decision follows a turbulent electoral cycle, where the same court had previously ordered a recount of the first-round votes. The annulment has raised concerns about potential constitutional chaos, as incumbent President Klaus Iohannis's term is set to expire on December 21, 2024, leaving uncertainty about who will lead the country during the transition.
Allegations of Russian Interference and Public Response
The decision to annul the election results was influenced by declassified reports from Romania's intelligence services, which indicated extensive Russian efforts to manipulate the electoral outcome. These reports revealed over 85,000 attempted cyberattacks on election-related websites and highlighted the use of social media platforms, particularly TikTok, to disseminate pro-Georgescu propaganda. The U.S. State Department expressed concern over these findings, warning that a shift away from pro-Western policies could have serious implications for U.S.-Romanian relations.
Georgescu, who had previously garnered only single-digit support in pre-election polls, won the first round with 22.9% of the vote, compared to Lasconi's 19.2%. His campaign focused on addressing Romania's cost-of-living crisis and proposed ending support for Ukraine, a stance that has alarmed many observers who fear a pivot towards a pro-Russian foreign policy. Following the court's decision, protests erupted in Bucharest, with demonstrators advocating for a pro-European stance and denouncing the rise of far-right politics in Romania.
