Romania’s Constitutional Court canceled the ongoing presidential election after accusations of Russian electoral meddling, sparking protests from far-right candidate Calin Georgescu. The court ruled that the entire process would have to be re-run, citing concerns about interference in the election.
Georgescu, a pro-Russian candidate, appeared at the school where he would have cast his vote on Sunday and claimed that democracy had been “cancelled” by the court’s decision. He called for peace and vowed to continue in a democratic manner.
Pro-European Union centrist leader Elena Lasconi also expressed concerns about the future of democracy, warning that Romania could be heading towards dictatorship if the election is not re-run. If Georgescu were to win the presidency, it would significantly alter Romania’s pro-Western politics and push the country closer to Russia-friendly leaders in central and eastern Europe.
The court’s decision was met with support from Social Democrat Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who described it as “the only correct solution”. However, Georgescu’s supporters saw it as an attack on democracy. The controversy has sparked a heated debate about the future of Romania’s democratic system.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/romanian-far-right-candidate-says-democracy-cancelled-along-with-election-2024-12-08