Mass protests in Romania over presidential election re-run 

• Tens of thousands of Romanians took to the streets of Bucharest on Sunday
• They are demanding the reinstatement of cancelled presidential election
• The first round of voting had been annulled due to claims of Russian interference
• The court has ordered a complete re-run of the two-round election

Mass protests in Romania over presidential election re-run 

Tens of thousands of Romanians took to the streets of Bucharest on Sunday, demanding the immediate resignation of outgoing President Klaus Iohannis and the reinstatement of the cancelled presidential election.

Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled the first round of voting, initially deemed legal, citing “aggressive hybrid Russian attacks” involving coordinated campaigns on TikTok and Telegram to promote far-right candidate Calin Georgescu.

Georgescu, who denied Russian support, unexpectedly surged from single digits to nearly 23% of the vote, outpacing centrist candidate Elena Lasconi, who received 19%.

“We demand a return to democracy through the resumption of elections, starting with the second round,” George Simion of the right-wing Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), said.

What’s Next?

The court has ordered a complete re-run of the two-round election:

• First round: May 4
• Runoff: May 18

It remains unclear if Georgescu will be permitted to run again. Meanwhile, Iohannis will remain in office until a successor is elected.