Presidential campaign kicks off in Romania amid Russian meddling scandal and TikTok propaganda
The presidential race has begun in Romania after the annulled elections due to Russian interference — the country’s role in NATO and the EU is now at stake.
Photo: AUR Alianța pentru Unirea Românilor, CC BY-SA 2.0
On Friday, April 4, Romania officially launched its presidential election campaign. The rerun of the first round is scheduled for May 4. Campaigning will end on May 3 at 7:00 AM.
If a runoff is needed, the candidates will be announced after a Constitutional Court decision, and a new campaign will begin, ending on May 17 at 7:00 AM — the day before the vote.
The original election was annulled in December after the Constitutional Court found evidence of Russian interference.
According to polls, opposition leader George Simion remains in front. He previously backed the disqualified far-right candidate Călin Georgescu. Tied for second are independents: former Prime Minister Victor Ponta and Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan.
TikTok, used by Georgescu and Simion for promotion through fake accounts and paid ads, has come under scrutiny by authorities.
Georgescu is now under investigation, and authorities have ordered social media platforms to swiftly remove illegal content and disclose sponsors of political ads.
As a reminder, Romania’s Central Electoral Bureau banned Călin Georgescu from running in the May elections due to violations in the previous campaign.
The Constitutional Court had already annulled his victory, citing illegal funding and digital manipulation. The decision sparked protests in Bucharest and criticism from right-wing politicians, including Matteo Salvini.