Protesters in Romania’s capital have taken to the streets for the second time this month, demanding the resumption of a presidential election annulled by a top court last month. The demonstration on Sunday saw tens of thousands gather in Bucharest, waving flags and holding placards with slogans such as “Democracy is not optional” and “We want free elections.” The protesters, many of whom were members of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, claim that the election was unfairly canceled.
The court’s decision to annul the election cited allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference. However, the party behind the candidate who won the first round, Calin Georgescu, disputes this, claiming that his campaign was funded from “undeclared sources.” The Constitutional Court also accused Georgescu of using artificial intelligence in his campaign.
Despite this, many observers believe that Georgescu’s online following was artificially inflated. Romania’s top security body has also alleged that he received preferential treatment on social media platforms.
The new election is set to take place on May 4, with a runoff scheduled for May 18 if no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote. However, it remains unclear whether Georgescu will be able to participate in the new election due to the court’s decision. The protesters are calling for the resumption of the second round and for fair elections.
As tensions continue to rise, Romania remains a key player in European politics and NATO membership. The annulment of the presidential election has sparked concerns about democracy and the rule of law in the country.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/romania-protest-presidential-election-bucharest-calin-georgescu-9a2b2efac1a614e16b077bd2a1bc500c