Voting is underway in Romania’s parliamentary elections, which comes after a shock result in last week’s presidential first-round ballot. Far-right parties are forecast to make significant gains, with the nationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR) slightly ahead of the Social Democratic party (PSD). Călin Georgescu, a far-right candidate who finished first in the presidential vote, has triggered nightly protests and suspicions of external interference.
The election outcome is uncertain due to ongoing allegations of electoral fraud and foreign interference. Romania’s top court ordered a recount, which may delay the second-round runoff between Georgescu and Elena Lasconi on December 8. Analysts say far-right parties will benefit from the turmoil, tarnishing public trust in state institutions.
Polls show the AUR leading with around 22% support, followed by the PSD at 21%, and the centre-right Save Romania Union (USR) at 17%. Observers believe Romania’s political landscape is shifting to the anti-establishment right. The outgoing president, Klaus Iohannis, warned that Sunday’s vote would determine Romania’s future, whether it remains a country of freedom or collapses into isolation.
TikTok has dismissed allegations of preferential treatment for Georgescu, but online efforts to influence voting in the presidential ballot were detected. Analysts warn that the election outcome may be significant, marking a new reality for Romania’s politics.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/01/romania-votes-in-parliamentary-election-amid-claims-of-russian-interference-calin-georgescu