Romania’s Presidential Election Redo: Test for Democracy Amid Foreign Interference Concerns

Romania is bracing for a crucial presidential election rerun next month, a high-stakes moment for the European Union member’s democratic process following last year’s annulled vote, which triggered the country’s most severe political crisis since the fall of communism in 1989, The AP reports.

The Constitutional Court annulled the original election on December 6th after far-right outsider Calin Georgescu unexpectedly led the first-round polls. This decision stemmed from allegations of widespread electoral violations and concerns surrounding a Russian-backed campaign promoting Georgescu. Georgescu is currently under investigation and has been barred from participating in the upcoming rerun. Moscow has denied any involvement in the election.

Romania, formerly a communist state, has dedicated decades to establishing robust democratic institutions. However, the annulled election severely damaged public trust, a wound that experts say could take years to heal. Many Romanians feel that authorities have not adequately addressed the irregularities of last year’s election, leading to uncertainty about the integrity of the upcoming vote.

Georgescu’s unexpected surge in popularity, climbing from single-digit polling numbers to winning the first round, shocked many observers. The Russia-friendly candidate, who has previously praised fascist figures from Romania’s past, sparked alarm in Brussels and raised serious concerns about foreign interference in European elections.

Similar to other EU nations, Romania has seen a rise in far-right sentiment in recent years, fueled by widespread dissatisfaction with the established political order. After Georgescu was disqualified, Romania’s far-right, which controls approximately a third of the legislative seats, raced to find a replacement.

George Simion, the leader of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), has stepped forward to fill this void. Simion, who finished fourth in last year’s race and subsequently endorsed Georgescu, will now represent the far-right movement. AUR, the second-largest party in the legislature, champions a platform centered on “family, nation, faith, and freedom.”