• Tens of thousands of Romanians protested in Bucharest against the Constitutional Court’s decision to annul the first round of the presidential election, citing alleged irregularities.
• The protest was organized by the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), with demonstrators waving Romanian flags and chanting slogans such as “freedom” and “bring back the second round.”
• Independent candidate Calin Georgescu emerged as the surprise frontrunner in the first round, raising questions about the integrity of Romania’s democratic process.
• The court’s decision has reignited debates about foreign interference in Romanian elections, with allegations of coordinated promotion on TikTok and “aggressive hybrid attacks from Russia.”
• The annulment has deepened divisions within Romania, with protesters accusing the government of undermining democratic principles and demanding a return to fair elections.

Tens of thousands of Romanians flooded the streets of Bucharest on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, to protest the Constitutional Court’s unprecedented decision to annul the results of the first round of the presidential election. The court’s move, which came after independent candidate Calin Georgescu emerged as the surprise frontrunner, has plunged the NATO and EU member state into political turmoil and raised questions about the integrity of its democratic process.

The protest, organized by the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), saw demonstrators waving Romanian flags, honking horns, and chanting slogans like “freedom” and “bring back the second round.” Placards reading “Democracy is not optional” and “We want free elections” dotted the crowd, while some carried portraits of Georgescu or Orthodox Christian icons. Organizers claimed over 100,000 people attended, though police estimates were significantly lower.

The court’s decision to annul the election, citing alleged irregularities and the need to ensure the “correctness and legality” of the process, has been met with widespread criticism. Georgescu, a religious nationalist who has criticized NATO and the EU, secured 22.94% of the vote in the first round on Nov. 24, 2024, edging out liberal leftist candidate Elena Lasconi. The court’s ruling, issued just two days before the scheduled Dec. 8 runoff, canceled the second round and called for a complete rerun of the election.

A political shockwave

Georgescu’s unexpected rise to the top of the polls sent shockwaves through Romania’s political establishment. A vocal critic of Romania’s involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Georgescu has pledged to end military and political support for Kyiv if elected. He has also accused NATO of using Romania as “a door for war” and raised concerns about the military buildup at the Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base near the Black Sea.

His campaign, which relied heavily on social media, particularly TikTok, has been the subject of intense scrutiny. The Constitutional Court cited the illegal use of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, and “undeclared sources” of funding as reasons for annulling the election. Georgescu, who declared zero campaign spending, has denied any wrongdoing and challenged the court’s decision in both local and European courts.

“The power of the people is the basis for a democratic state, and the authorities are obliged to respect the results of the national vote,” Georgescu said in a statement. “The current government is afraid of losing power.”

Allegations of foreign interference

The court’s decision has also reignited debates about foreign interference in Romania’s elections. Declassified documents from Romania’s National Security Council alleged that Georgescu’s campaign benefited from coordinated promotion on TikTok, including paid advertisements and algorithm manipulation. The documents also pointed to “aggressive hybrid attacks from Russia,” though Moscow has vehemently denied any involvement.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed the allegations as “absolutely groundless,” accusing Romania of fostering “an unprecedented surge of anti-Russian hysteria” to influence public opinion.

A divided nation

The annulment has deepened divisions within Romania, a country still grappling with the legacy of its communist past and its transition to democracy. For many protesters, the court’s decision represents a betrayal of democratic principles.

“We are protesting against the coup d’état that took place on Dec. 6,” said George Simion, leader of the AUR, during Sunday’s rally. “We are sorry to discover so late that we were living in a lie and that we were led by people who claimed to be democrats, but are not at all. We demand a return to democracy through the resumption of elections, starting with the second round.”

The government has since set new dates for the rerun, with the first round scheduled for May 4 and a potential runoff on May 18. However, it remains unclear whether Georgescu will be allowed to participate, as his eligibility is now under legal scrutiny.

A test for democracy

The protests in Bucharest underscore the fragility of Romania’s democratic institutions and the challenges of navigating a polarized political landscape. The annulment of the election has drawn comparisons to past crises in the region, where allegations of electoral fraud and foreign interference have undermined public trust in democratic processes.

As Romania prepares for a new round of voting, the stakes could not be higher. The outcome will not only determine the country’s political future but also test its commitment to democratic principles in the face of internal and external pressures.

For now, the streets of Bucharest remain a battleground for the soul of Romanian democracy, as protesters vow to keep fighting for what they see as their stolen right to free and fair elections.

Sources include:

RT.com

APNews.com

United24Media.com