Romanian Protesters Rally Against Presidential Election Annulment

Thousands of Romanians gathered outside the country’s top court on Friday to protest the annulment of the December presidential election, where a lesser-known candidate had led in the first round.

Protests, though modest in scale, have persisted since Dec. 6, when the Constitutional Court invalidated the election just two days before the scheduled second round. The court’s decision followed revelations from state documents indicating that frontrunner Calin Georgescu had benefitted from an unfair social media campaign, allegedly linked to Russia. Moscow has denied any involvement.

The election cancellation has further eroded public trust in state institutions, deepened divisions among voters frustrated by the political infighting and corruption accusations plaguing mainstream parties, and bolstered the popularity of new patriotic groups, which now hold over a third of parliamentary seats.

On Friday, Georgescu’s lawyer formally requested the Constitutional Court to reinstate the original election results. Although Georgescu himself was absent, he called on his supporters to rally in his defense.

Approximately over 100,00 demonstrators assembled outside the court, bringing with them a mock coffin inscribed with the word “Democracy.” Waving national flags and holding Christian icons along with images of Georgescu, they chanted slogans like “We want to vote” and “Bring back the second round.”

The ruling coalition has since agreed to rerun the two-round presidential election on May 4 and May 18, nearly six months after the original vote was voided.

In the interim, outgoing President Klaus Iohannis, whose term ended on Dec. 21, will remain in office until a new president is elected.

It remains uncertain whether Georgescu, known for his criticisms of NATO and opposition to Romania’s support for Ukraine in the war against Russia, will be allowed to participate in the rerun.

As a member of the European Union and NATO, Romania shares the longest land border with Ukraine. The country has played a key role in supporting Kyiv by facilitating the export of millions of tons of Ukrainian grain through its Black Sea port of Constanta, training Ukrainian fighter pilots, and donating a Patriot air defense system to bolster Ukraine’s defense.

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