Romania’s Election Annulment: Allegations of Russian Interference Exploiting Societal Discontent

Mircea Geoana, a former deputy head of NATO, stated that “Romania dodged a bullet,” adding, “But it came very close.” The country’s citizens remain astonished by the last-minute annulment of their presidential election. This followed accusations of “massive” and “aggressive” interference by Moscow, allegedly aimed at distorting the ballot, which nearly resulted in a far-right candidate, boosted by TikTok, securing a win. Mircea Geoana cautioned, “If Moscow can do this in Romania, which is profoundly anti-Russian, it means they can do it anywhere.” Russia has denied any involvement in the election. However, in an uncommon action last week, intelligence agencies in Bucharest released declassified documents that outlined a significant influence campaign utilizing the social media application. This development occurred after Calin Georgescu, a figure from the extreme periphery of Romanian politics, achieved an unexpected victory in the first round. The constitutional court subsequently halted the election, citing national security concerns. The entire electoral process is scheduled to be repeated next year. While TikTok undeniably amplified Mr. Georgescu’s nationalist, religious, and frequently unusual messages, it was the Romanian populace who resonated with his statements. “The Russians are hugely sophisticated. But it’s hugely mistaken to believe all of this was just because of Russia,” stated Mr. Geoana. He added, “There is a whole cocktail of grievances in our society.” On the day that was originally designated for the election, Mr. Georgescu appeared outside a closed polling station. There, he condemned the cancellation of the vote, calling it “an abuse and a crime.” Accompanied by bodyguards, he was met by a small group of supporters who chanted “Georgescu for president.” Among them, one man with a white smock and a long beard waved a large flag, while another held a substantial silver icon above Georgescu’s head. Retired auditor Adriana expressed her dissatisfaction, stating, “People here are not happy with the current regime. They’ve done absolutely nothing for 35 years. Just a few new pavements, that’s it.” Her remarks came as the candidate she supported disappeared into a crowd of cameras and journalists. Although Adriana’s pension saw an increase in August, prices in Romania continue to rise at the highest pace in Europe. She commented, “90% of the increase will disappear with inflation.” Significant factors contributing to public resentment include poverty, especially the disparity between rural and urban existences, and a perceived corruption among the ruling class. Sorin Ionita of the Expert Forum in Bucharest asserted, “This was a massive protest vote.” He then posed the question: “The question then is: who do you vote for when you want to protest?” Ionita concluded, “Somehow, TikTok helped channel that for Georgescu.” A profound weariness exists regarding the two dominant political parties that have controlled the Romanian political landscape for an extended period. Consequently, in Bucharest, there is a prevailing suspicion that the judicial decision to annul the election might have been influenced by political considerations as much as security concerns. Even individuals who were apprehensive about a Georgescu presidency—and suspected Russian support for him—are now concerned about the precedent established for Romanian democracy. Mr. Georgescu’s political trajectory initially commenced within conventional politics, specifically at the foreign ministry. Subsequently, he shifted towards the fringes, an environment characterized by skepticism towards ‘The System’ and the proliferation of conspiracy theories. He has publicly denied the existence of Covid, expressed doubts about the moon landing, and asserted that water is composed of elements other than H2O. These assertions have garnered a receptive audience on social media platforms. Ion Godin remarked, “He’s like a preacher, with a Bible in his hand, and I thought he spoke only the truth.” This comment alluded to Mr. Georgescu’s persona, which resembles that of a cult leader, partly due to his infrequent public appearances. A campaign video depicting him riding a white steed through fields also contributes to this image. However, another aspect also resonated with Mr. Godin. He stated, “He talks about rights and dignity.” Godin continued, “Romanians go to other countries for work, but we have so many resources here. Wood, grain – and our soil is very rich. Why should we be vagrants in Italy?” The pledge to restore sovereignty and national pride proved effective. Amidst the controversy surrounding the presidency, far-right political parties saw their parliamentary support double. Proposals to annul that election as well were dismissed. Mr. Georgescu’s “Make Romania Great Again” pledge, reminiscent of Donald Trump’s rhetoric, significantly boosted his performance among the extensive Romanian diaspora. Many individuals who departed Romania due to difficult living conditions are currently managing to subsist abroad, rather than thriving. Raluca, a young woman recently returned from working in London, asserted emphatically: “He’s corrupt? He’s with Putin? No, he’s not. He’s with the people. With Romania.” She added, “Georgescu is a patriot. He wants peace, not war, and we want that, too.” Approximately ten minutes later, the crowd surrounding the politician dispersed, allowing me to approach. I questioned whether he was now urging people to demonstrate in the streets to demand the reversal of the “coup” he had alleged. “I am not here to protest, I was just here to pray,” Mr. Georgescu responded enigmatically, continuing to walk. His security personnel then moved me aside and escorted him back to his vehicle. There is no indication that Calin Georgescu was aware of being utilized by Moscow. He dismissed the suggestion with laughter during an interview a few days prior. Nevertheless, numerous positions he has articulated are advantageous to Russia. Analyst Sorin Ionita observed, “You can’t be very pro-Russian in Romania, it doesn’t work.” He added, “But every point of Putin’s agenda was part of his campaign.” Regarding Ukraine, for instance, Mr. Georgescu informed me that he would promptly cease all military assistance and advocate for peace, though he refrained from specifying if this would align with Kyiv’s conditions. He referred to Vladimir Putin as a “patriot.” Romanians harbor genuine apprehension about being drawn into the neighboring conflict; Russian drones have repeatedly fallen across the border, and Putin’s increasingly aggressive rhetoric is unsettling. The Georgescu campaign capitalized on this fear while also inciting animosity towards refugees. Brianna Caradja recounted, “All the far-right candidates, including Georgescu, included a slice of Ukraine hate speech in their bubble of propaganda,” referencing unsubstantiated assertions regarding refugee children receiving substantial state benefits, exceeding those provided to local citizens. Since the commencement of the full-scale invasion, she has organized significant aid shipments to Ukraine. However, contributions from businesses and retailers have diminished as the political environment has grown more adversarial. Brianna disclosed, “I get threats. It’s grown since the first round of the elections.” She continued, “There’s language I didn’t hear before, like ‘traitor’. That’s a very heavy word, especially when you realise these people are from the ultra-right.” The intelligence report concerning the elections identifies “encouraging discontent” regarding support for Ukraine as a component of Russia’s hybrid warfare against Romania. This is categorized under “Disinformation and Propaganda.” Calin Georgescu’s assertion that he expended “zero” funds to spread his election message is currently subject to investigation. Reports indicate that one individual spent nearly $400,000 (£313,000) on promoting online material associated with the former candidate, who maintains he has no acquaintance with this person. Authorities have conducted a search of the residence belonging to this enigmatic benefactor, Bodgan Peschir, and have also summoned internet influencers for interrogation. Several individuals have confessed to receiving payment for referencing the election in videos typically used to advertise products such as detergent or lipstick. These politically themed posts were subsequently inundated with hashtags like #wearevotingcalingeorgescu. Both TikTok’s policies and Romanian election legislation prohibit campaigning that lacks clear identification. Insiders within the prosecution service indicate that securing a conviction will be challenging, given that Romanian intelligence publicly disclosed its allegations of Russian interference at an early stage. Mr. Georgescu himself now seems to have removed all videos from his official TikTok profile. Despite these developments, his supporters remain steadfast. Raluca expressed her conviction that the candidate she backed would not be permitted to run again, stating, “Someone wants something good for his country and they won’t allow him to do that.” She further remarked, “Maybe he’ll be in prison in months and for what? For nothing.” Concluding, she said, “We feel lost right now, without hope.” The unexpected suspension of the election prompted appeals for tranquility rather than street demonstrations, a call that has largely been heeded thus far. However, Mircea Geoana holds the view that Romania was “on the brink of the precipice” before the constitutional court intervened. He asserted, “We bought ourselves some time. But there is real fury here. And if we don’t do something, we might have a repeat.” Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material found on external websites. Information regarding