Romania’s political landscape is currently embroiled in turmoil following a stunning upset in the first round of the presidential election and a subsequent court-ordered recount. The country’s top court, the High Court of Cassation and Justice, announced on Thursday that it had unanimously ordered a complete re-verification and recount of all ballots cast in the November 24th election. This decision comes as a major shock and raises serious questions about the integrity of the electoral process just weeks before a crucial runoff election and parliamentary elections.
The unexpected surge of Calin Georgescu, a 62-year-old independent far-right politician who previously polled in single digits, to victory has sent ripples of concern across the nation and internationally. Georgescu’s platform, which includes praising 1930s Romanian fascist leaders, expressing criticism of NATO and Romania’s support for Ukraine, and advocating for engagement with Russia, has raised significant alarm. His win, particularly given the country’s pro-Western stance and strong alliance with Ukraine, is seen by many as a potential shift in the nation’s geopolitical trajectory.
The decision to order a recount stems from a challenge lodged by conservative presidential candidate Cristian Terhes, who received only 1% of the vote. Terhes requested the annulment of the election results, prompting the court to initially postpone a ruling until November 29th. However, the court ultimately decided on a full recount of the 9.46 million votes cast. Toni Grebla, head of Romania’s election authority, estimates that this recount will take several days to complete once the official request is received.
Adding to the complexity of the situation is the role of social media, particularly TikTok. Georgescu’s campaign heavily leveraged the platform to reach young voters and Romanians living abroad, contributing significantly to his unexpected success. This has led to calls for an investigation into TikTok’s potential influence on the election. Indeed, a senior official at Romania’s telecoms regulator has even called for a temporary suspension of TikTok pending the investigation, although TikTok itself refutes any undue influence, arguing that many candidates utilized the platform. The Romanian government’s top security body will meet to discuss potential national security risks related to cyber activities from both state and non-state actors.
The upcoming runoff election on December 8th will pit Georgescu against centrist contender Elena Lasconi, who finished second. Meanwhile, parliamentary elections are scheduled for Sunday, further intensifying the pressure on Romania’s political system. The ongoing turmoil highlights a deep division within Romanian society and raises critical questions about the transparency and reliability of its electoral processes. The recount ordered by the court, while aiming for fairness, has inadvertently added to the pre-existing uncertainty and eroded public confidence in state institutions, just as the country is facing important political decisions with significant implications for its future.
This situation also follows an October ruling by Romania’s Constitutional Court banning another far-right politician from running in the election. That decision, while controversial and sparking accusations of overreach, highlights the wider concern and tensions surrounding the rise of far-right ideologies within Romania.
