People walk past election posters depicting candidates for the presidential and parliamentary elections in Bucharest on November 22, 2024.
Daniel Mihailescu | AFP | Getty Images
Romania’s Supreme Court on Friday annulled the results of the first round of the country’s presidential election, adding that the entire election procedure would have to be restarted.
The second round of voting is scheduled to take place on Sunday, and voting has already begun at polling stations overseas.
Karin Gheorgescu, who was polled in single digits before the first presidential election vote on November 24, jumped to victory because she wants to end Romania’s aid to Ukraine in response to Russia’s invasion. , the question arose as to how such a surprise was possible in the European Union. and NATO member countries.
A document declassified by Romania’s Supreme Security Council on Wednesday said the country was the target of “hybrid Russian aggressive attacks” during the election period.
“The electoral process to elect the Romanian president will be completely rerun and the government will set a new date and a calendar for taking the necessary measures,” the court said in a statement.
The second round of the presidential election, scheduled to be held on Sunday, was to pit far-right, pro-Russian leader Georgescu against centrist pro-EU leader Elena Lasconi.
Far-right parties performed well in the Romanian parliamentary elections held last Sunday, but the ruling Social Democratic Party has emerged as the most powerful party and is aiming to form a pro-EU coalition government.
The court did not question the integrity of the parliamentary vote.
