BUCHAREST, Romania — A significant turnout of demonstrators gathered in Romania’s capital on Sunday, voicing their discontent with the recent decision of the Constitutional Court to annul last month’s presidential election. This ruling came after an unexpected candidate surged to the forefront of the race, generating widespread protests.
In Bucharest, the atmosphere was charged as numerous attendees honked car horns and waved the national colors of Romania—blue, yellow, and red. Protesters carried signs with messages like “Democracy is not optional” and “We want free elections,” with many calling for a revival of the presidential race, particularly a second round of voting.
This activism follows a controversial ruling from the Constitutional Court which annulled the election just two days prior to a scheduled runoff on December 8. Calin Georgescu, a far-right populist, had surprised many by leading the first round of elections on November 24. Following this, significant concerns regarding electoral misconduct and alleged Russian meddling surfaced, compounding public unease.
George Simion, head of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, took to the streets alongside protestors, articulating grievances against what he termed a “coup d’état” that took place on December 6. He expressed disillusionment, stating, “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.” Simion emphasized the need for a return to democratic processes, advocating for the immediate continuation of elections starting with the neglected second round.
The decision to annul the presidential election has plunged Romania, a member of the European Union and NATO, into a state of unrest, exacerbating existing conflicts, including a recount of first-round votes. New dates for the electoral process have been announced, with the first round now scheduled for May 4. Should no candidate secure more than 50% of the vote, a runoff will be conducted on May 18. It remains uncertain whether Georgescu will have the opportunity to participate in these upcoming elections.
In response to the court’s ruling, Georgescu has filed an appeal with a local court and has also made a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights. The Constitutional Court’s rationale for annulling the elections pointed to the illicit use of digital tools, including artificial intelligence, and the involvement of unreported funding sources; Georgescu himself had reported zero expenditures for his campaign.
Observers have noted that Georgescu’s electoral success can be partly attributed to his active presence on TikTok, where he boasts an impressive 7.2 million likes and 646,000 followers. Some analysts raise concerns that his online following may have been artificially boosted, with Romania’s national security agency suggesting he received favorable treatment from TikTok compared to his rivals.
On Friday, a separate protest also attracted thousands of participants in Bucharest, further emphasizing public discontent with the annulled presidential election and the state of democracy in the country.
