Thousands of Romanians gathered in Bucharest on Saturday to demonstrate their support for the European Union, as tensions surrounding a presidential election rerun continue. The Constitutional Court voided the initial ballot in December following accusations of Russian meddling, and the country is now set to repeat its two-round presidential election on May 4 and 18.
Pro-European protesters waved EU flags and banners, with some chanting anti-Russian slogans. Their message was clear: Romania must remain in Europe, not align itself with Russia. The event was backed by civil society organisations from Romania and the diaspora, who signed a “Manifesto for Europe” statement.
The election process is being closely watched by international bodies due to its implications on free speech and political opponents. Four candidates have been approved by the Central Electoral Bureau, but ultra-nationalist Diana Sosoaca has been rejected. The deadline for applications is March 15, with some candidates scrambling to get on the ballot ahead of May’s election.
The EU-NATO state at the centre of a dispute between Europe and the US over free speech and suppressing political opponents. Calin Georgescu, who denied Russian meddling, has been barred from participating in the rerun. The outcome is uncertain, with centrist and independent candidates vying for support alongside hard-right contenders seeking to replace Georgescu.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/romanians-rally-show-support-europe-amid-election-tensions-2025-03-15