Chaos in Romania's Presidential Election: Court Orders Recount Amid TikTok Controversy
Romania's presidential election has taken a dramatic turn as a court ordered a recount of the results from the first round held on November 28. This decision comes amid allegations that interference through TikTok has significantly propelled the candidacy of the little-known far-right contender, Calin Georgescu. As the nation prepares for legislative elections and a runoff set for December 8 between Georgescu and pro-European centrist candidate Elena Lasconi, tensions are high in this politically charged atmosphere.
The Romanian presidency reported that security officials identified cyberattacks aimed at influencing the election results after Georgescu's unexpected first-round victory, which led to Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu being knocked out of the race. The far-right candidate, who has expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, managed to make headlines with an unexpected surge in support.
Following this revelation, another far-right candidate, Cristian Terhes, who is also a member of the European Parliament, has demanded a recount, asserting that Lasconi's Union Save Romania (USR) party continued its campaign online past the legal cutoff. The Constitutional Court, in a unanimous decision, ordered a recount of all ballots cast in the first round. However, it denied a separate request from another candidate to annul the first round due to a delay in submission.
On Thursday, the Supreme Council for National Defence issued a statement alleging that Georgescu received enhanced visibility on TikTok, which they claim contributed to his unexpected success. The statement urged immediate action to investigate the matter. TikTok, however, refuted these allegations, asserting that Georgescu's account was treated the same as all other candidates'. In response, Georgescu alleged that his opponents are attempting to undermine Romanian citizens’ freedom to make informed choices based on their moral, Christian, and democratic values.
Further complicating the election landscape, Romanian officials are increasingly concerned about the growing interest of Russia in manipulating public sentiment and the electoral process in Romania. On the European level, the European Commission has confirmed that it is considering a formal investigation into TikTok's role in the electoral processes based on a request from Romania's media regulator under the EU's Digital Services Act. This regulatory scrutiny could lead to implications for how social media platforms are governed during politically sensitive times.
As the situation develops, all eyes will be on the Constitutional Court's next steps, especially as they reconvene Friday at 2:00 PM. With mounting accusations and a contentious political environment, the integrity of Romania's electoral process remains under considerable scrutiny.
Related Sources: