People pass election posters of candidates for presidential and congressional elections on November 22, 2024 in Bucharest.
Daniel Mihelescu AFP | Getty Images
Romania’s Supreme Court on Friday invalidated the results of the country’s first round of presidential elections, adding that the entire electoral process must be repeated.
The second round of voting was originally scheduled for Sunday, and voting has already begun at polling stations abroad.
Calin Georgescu, whose approval ratings are in single digits ahead of the first round of presidential elections on November 24, has surged as he hopes to end Romania’s support for Ukraine against the Russian invasion. It raises questions about how the EU could have pulled off such a surprise.
Documents declassified by Romania’s Supreme Security Council on Wednesday said the country was the target of “aggressive Russian hybrid attacks” during the election period.
“The electoral process for the election of Romania’s president will be fully reopened and the government will set new dates and… a calendar for the necessary steps,” the court said in a statement.
The second round of the presidential race, scheduled for Sunday, pits far-right pro-Russian candidate Georgescu against centrist pro-EU leader Elena Raskoni.
Far-right parties also performed well in Romania’s parliamentary elections last Sunday, even as the ruling Social Democrats emerged as the largest party and hoped to form a pro-EU coalition government.
The court did not challenge the integrity of the parliamentary vote.
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