Romania has plunged into a historic political crisis after the Constitutional Court annulled the first round of the presidential election, citing conclusive evidence of foreign interference and severe electoral violations. The decision, announced on 6 December 2024, follows the declassification of intelligence reports revealing a coordinated operation by a foreign state to influence the outcome in favour of far-right candidate Călin Georgescu. This extraordinary ruling halts the electoral process, mandates a full restart, and raises critical questions about the integrity of Romania’s democratic institutions and its vulnerability to external manipulation.
This article was updated periodically as more information became available.
22:05 – Constitutional Court Releases Document Stating Reasons behind Annulling of Presidential Elections
The Constitutional Court of Romania published its reasoning for the annulment of the presidential elections, highlighting critical violations of electoral integrity. Key points from the decision include:
1. Foreign Interference and Manipulation:
- Evidence indicated systematic manipulation of voters using digital technologies and artificial intelligence, creating an unequal electoral environment.
- A candidate’s campaign exploited social media algorithms, with undeclared foreign funding distorting transparency and fairness.
2. Violation of Electoral Laws:
- Electoral laws regarding campaign financing were breached, with substantial discrepancies between declared budgets and campaign scale.
- Propaganda and disinformation campaigns further compromised voter freedom.
3. Democratic Principles at Stake:
- The court emphasised the importance of free, equal, and transparent elections as fundamental to democracy.
- It asserted that the election process had undermined public trust in democratic institutions.
4. Next Steps:
- The election process will restart, requiring a new date, renewed candidate registration, and a fully transparent campaign cycle.
This decision underscores the court’s role in safeguarding constitutional principles and restoring confidence in Romania’s democratic system.
21:05 – Călin Georgescu Makes Statement
Independent candidate Călin Georgescu, who advanced to the second round of Romania’s presidential elections, delivered a fiery reaction on Friday evening following the Constitutional Court’s annulment of the vote. Speaking on Realitatea Plus, Georgescu framed the decision as a direct attack on democracy, calling it “an officialised coup d’état” and vowing to continue his fight with the support of the Romanian people and faith in God.
Key highlights from his speech:
• Democracy Undermined: Georgescu described the Court’s ruling as a “trampling of democracy” and claimed that Romania’s justice system has been subordinated to political orders, turning it into a “simulation” that betrays democratic principles.
• Call for Courage: He encouraged Romanians to stand firm, stating, “We are a brave people, and the destiny and rights of the Romanian nation are in our hands.”
• Anti-Corruption Stance: Georgescu accused the political establishment of being terrified of losing power and privileges, declaring that the election revealed the “corrupt and mafia-like system” within Romania.
• Faith and Unity: Invoking faith in God and the power of unity, he urged citizens to remain hopeful and act for a Romania “led by the people and for the people under God’s protection.”
• Historic Turning Point: Georgescu portrayed this moment as the beginning of a new chapter in Romania’s history, one that will be written by “dignified, united, and courageous people.”
Georgescu’s rhetoric, which blended religious overtones with populist and nationalist themes, underscored his claim to represent the will of the people against a corrupt political system. Despite the annulment, he reaffirmed his commitment to continue his campaign, framing himself as a champion of Romanian sovereignty and democracy.
19:00 – President Klaus Iohannis addresses nation.
Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis addressed the nation at 7PM, following the Constitutional Court’s historic decision to annul the first round of the presidential elections due to evidence of foreign interference. Speaking on Friday evening, Iohannis emphasised the legitimacy of the Court’s decision and assured Romanians, as well as the European Union and NATO, that the country remains stable and secure.
The annulment comes after intelligence services uncovered a significant influence operation that benefitted far-right candidate Călin Georgescu, whose rapid rise to prominence shocked the nation.
‘Grave Conclusions’ from Intelligence Reports
President Iohannis revealed that intelligence agencies had alerted him to irregularities following the elections. “I received the reports, and I was very worried about what I read, so I convened the Romanian National Security Council,” he explained. “The conclusions were grave.”
The intelligence findings pointed to Georgescu receiving “massive illegal election support” despite publicly declaring no campaign expenditures. According to Iohannis, the support came from a coordinated foreign operation, which he described as a matter of national security.
Georgescu, who gained the nickname “TikTok Messiah” due to his meteoric rise on the platform, ran a highly effective social media campaign, amassing tens of millions of views in the weeks leading up to the election. However, intelligence reports revealed the involvement of a sleeper network activated on TikTok and Telegram just two weeks before the vote.
The declassified documents also uncovered nearly €1 million in undisclosed spending to promote Georgescu, with payments reportedly made to influencers for reposts supporting his candidacy.
Iohannis, whose presidential term was set to end on 21 December, reassured Romanians that he would remain in office until a new president is lawfully elected. “According to the Romanian constitution, the president continues his mandate until the new president takes his oath,” he stated.
He also sought to calm concerns about political and economic instability, stating, “Romania is a stable, solid, and safe country. I say this for the economy, investments, and markets. I say this to the European Union: Romania is and remains a safe, solid country. I say this to NATO: Romania is a safe, solid country.”
As Romania navigates this unprecedented political crisis, Iohannis reiterated his commitment to democracy and stability: “I will continue working for a democratic, free, modern, safe, European Romania.”
The annulment of the elections and the revelations of foreign interference have highlighted vulnerabilities in Romania’s democratic system. As the country prepares to restart the electoral process, ensuring transparency and restoring public trust will be critical priorities.
17:20 – Breaking News: Romania’s First Round of Presidential Elections Cancelled by Constitutional Court – Cluj XYZ
Unprecedented Court Ruling
The ruling comes just days before the second round of voting was due to take place and while the diaspora vote was already underway. The Court cited declassified intelligence documents from the Supreme Council for National Defence (CSAT), which revealed a coordinated campaign by Russia to influence the election in favour of pro-Russian, far-right candidate Călin Georgescu.
In a unanimous decision, the Constitutional Court annulled the entire electoral process, exercising its authority under Article 146(f) of the Constitution to ensure fairness and legality.
The Court ruled:
- The electoral process conducted under Government Decisions No. 756/2024 and No. 1061/2024 is annulled.
- A new election date and campaign timetable must be established by the government.
- The decision is final, binding, and will be published in the Official Gazette of Romania.
This is the first time in Romania’s post-communist history that a presidential election has been annulled, creating a political vacuum and raising concerns about the nation’s democratic stability.
Shocking Revelations of Russian Interference
The decision followed the declassification of intelligence documents exposing a €1 million Russian-funded operation to support Georgescu’s campaign, primarily through TikTok. The campaign allegedly involved hybrid cyber actions targeting Romanian electoral infrastructure and manipulating public opinion online.
Georgescu, a political outsider and NATO sceptic, secured 23% of the vote in the first round, narrowly ahead of USR candidate Elena Lasconi with 19%. Georgescu has denied any wrongdoing, accusing the political establishment of conspiring against him.
Fallout and Reactions
The annulment has provoked widespread political and public reaction.
Elena Lasconi, addressing her supporters in a video published on Facebook, declared, “Romania failed to defend democracy.” She criticised the Court’s ruling as “illegal” and “immoral,” stating, “Nine million citizens, both in the country and in the diaspora, have expressed their preference. We cannot ignore their will!” She vowed to fight for a transparent and fair election and called for accountability.
Outgoing Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu defended the decision, calling it “the only correct solution” in light of the evidence. He stressed the importance of investigating those responsible for undermining the election, adding, “Public trust in our democratic institutions depends on this.”
Nicolae Ciucă, a former presidential candidate from the National Liberal Party (PNL), urged calm and unity, highlighting the need for transparency and the protection of democratic values.
Meanwhile, AUR leader George Simion, who initially described the ruling as “a coup,” later appealed to his supporters to avoid protests, saying, “This system must fall democratically.”
Economic and International Impact
The decision has reverberated beyond politics. Romania’s stock market reacted positively, with the main BET index rising by over 3%, as investors expressed optimism about a potential reset of the political landscape.
Internationally, news outlets such as The Guardian and Le Monde have reported extensively on the unprecedented situation, highlighting the threat of foreign interference in democratic elections.
The government must now set a new date for the elections and restart the process, including candidate registration and campaigning. Although Romanian law requires elections to be held on the second Sunday after annulment, the Court’s order to begin the entire process anew suggests a delay until early 2025.
The diaspora vote, already in progress with over 30,000 ballots cast, has been halted by the Electoral Bureau. The treatment of these votes remains unclear, further adding to the uncertainty.
A Democracy Under Strain
This decision marks a watershed moment for Romania, exposing vulnerabilities in its democratic processes. The annulment, while addressing serious allegations of manipulation, has shaken public confidence in electoral integrity and left the country in political limbo.
As Romania prepares for a fresh start, the focus will be on ensuring transparency, accountability, and the protection of democratic values. The next chapter in this crisis will determine whether the nation can recover and rebuild trust in its institutions—or whether deeper fractures will emerge.
