Romanians head to the polls on Sunday in the first round of a presidential election re-run, five months after the previous vote was annulled over allegations of Russian interference – a decision that plunged the country into political chaos and mass protests.
The election will determine the country’s leadership at a time when its position within the European Union and NATO, as well as its foreign policy direction, face significant challenges.
The unprecedented annulment of the presidential election on 6 December, 2024 came after allegations of Russian interference favouring the initial front-runner, Calin Georgescu.
The move plunged the country into widespread protests and political instability, fuelled by US Vice-President JD Vance, who, during a speech at the Munich Security Conference in February, questioned European values of democracy if “European courts cancel elections”.
Far-right candidate tops first-round of Romania’s presidential poll
So how did this annulment come about?
In November 2024, protests against the rise of pro-Russian politician Calin Georgescu spread beyond Bucharest to other Romanian cities, after his surprise victory in the first round of the presidential election.
Two days later, the Supreme Council of National Defence, at the request of incumbent president Klaus Iohannis, began analysing “data pointing to an impact on national security” with regard to elections.
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