Romanian Court Annuls Presidential Election Results Following Russian Interference Allegations
Romania's Constitutional Court annulled the results of the first round of the 2024 presidential election, which had seen a surprising lead by far-right candidate Calin Georgescu. The decision follows concerns over significant foreign interference from Russia, which has been accused of cyberattacks and social media manipulation during the campaign. Georgescu's rise, fueled by his anti-Western stance and promises to end support for Ukraine, has raised alarms both domestically and internationally, with critics warning of a shift away from Romania's pro-European and NATO alignment.
Maša Ocvirk, Program Coordinator for the Wilson Center’s Global Europe Program, offers perspective on what’s happening. She covers the unprecedented nature of the court’s decision, previous Russian interference in Moldova and Georgia, and how political instability in Romania could have an impact on the European Union and upcoming elections in other member states.
Guest
Hosted By
Global Europe Program
The Global Europe Program is focused on Europe’s capabilities, and how it engages on critical global issues. We investigate European approaches to critical global issues. We examine Europe’s relations with Russia and Eurasia, China and the Indo-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. Our initiatives include “Ukraine in Europe” – an examination of what it will take to make Ukraine’s European future a reality. But we also examine the role of NATO, the European Union and the OSCE, Europe’s energy security, transatlantic trade disputes, and challenges to democracy. The Global Europe Program’s staff, scholars-in-residence, and Global Fellows participate in seminars, policy study groups, and international conferences to provide analytical recommendations to policy makers and the media. Read more
