Romanian Constitutional Court Annuls Presidential Elections

The Romanian Constitutional Court (CCR) has annulled the entire electoral process for the 2024 presidential elections, citing significant irregularities. The decision follows numerous challenges related to the first round of voting, held on November 24. The electoral process will be restarted entirely, including candidate registration and validation, with the government tasked to set a new election date and calendar. The ruling is final and binding, to be published in the Official Gazette.

This extraordinary measure was influenced by a report from the Supreme Council of National Defense (CSAT), which revealed alleged external interference in the campaign of independent candidate Călin Georgescu. Declassified documents suggest Georgescu's campaign received external funding worth approximately €1 million for massive promotion on platforms like TikTok. Additionally, state-coordinated cyberattacks on IT infrastructure supporting the elections were reported, pointing to an attempt to destabilize Romania's democratic process.

These revelations were central to complaints filed by other candidates, including Cristian Terheș and Sebastian Popescu, who highlighted violations of electoral laws. Georgescu denied the accusations, calling the CCR's decision "undemocratic" and asserting the legality of his campaign activities.

This situation raises serious concerns about electoral security and democratic integrity, representing a potential regional risk in the current geopolitical climate. The relaunch of the electoral process is a first in Romania's recent history, underscoring the need for stricter measures to prevent external interference and hybrid threats​.