How are democracies saved? Constitutional court annuls presidential elections in Romania
In a groundbreaking decision, Romania's constitutional court annulled the results of the first round of the presidential elections on Friday, days after declassified intelligence alleged that Russia ran a coordinated online campaign to promote the far-right outsider who won the first round.
Although no official statement has been released yet, the decision is widely believed to stem from said recently declassified evidence which points to foreign interference in the campaign of far-right candidate Călin Georgescu.
The documents reportedly reveal that Georgescu's campaign was financed by a foreign state, likely Russia. The funds were allegedly used to spread illicit propaganda through fake social media accounts, particularly on TikTok. This represents a grave breach of electoral laws and a significant national security threat.
Georgescu was set to face Elena Lasconi, a pro-European reformist from the Save Romania Union party, in a runoff scheduled for Sunday. However, the annulment has thrown the election timeline – and the future of the candidates – into chaos.
It remains unclear whether Georgescu will be disqualified from the rescheduled election, expected to take place in early 2025. However, his candidacy seems unlikely given the criminal charges placed on him, including breach of electoral conduct and rules, and conspiracy with foreign agents.
News of the annulment sent shockwaves through Romanian media on Friday, sparking widespread speculation about the path forward. Opinions on the court's decision are sharply divided. Social Democrat leader Marcel Ciolacu, whose party holds the largest presence in parliament, called the ruling ”the only way to safeguard Romanian democracy.” His comments follow polls suggesting Georgescu could have captured up to 60% of the vote in the runoff.
Lasconi, meanwhile, criticised the constitutional court's delayed response and lack of transparency. ”The absence of clear explanations undermines public trust,” she said in a statement, reflecting the frustration of many.
The decision has only deepened Romania's political instability. Georgescu, a far-right sovereigntist and fascist-leaning candidate, enjoys broad support across diverse social and economic groups. Former diplomats told the European Correspondent that his appeal lies in a shared frustration with the political system, which many feel has failed to deliver meaningful change since the Romanian Revolution of 1989.
Observers fear Georgescu's annulment could backfire, turning him into a political martyr.
From Germany's proficient AfD movement to Le Pen's party in France and Meloni's rule over Italy, Europe has been moving toward the right in the past decade. However, Romania's situation is so much more pressing given both the results of last week's parliamentary elections and the quality (or lack thereof) of its institutions.
In the recent elections, the far-right sovereignist parties accumulated 32% of parliament's seats. The high levels of corruption, together with the president's ability to elect three of the nine judges of the constitutional court, further raise fears of the inability of checks and balances to properly take place in our new and fragile democracy.