Romania - November 2024

On 6 December, the Constitutional Court annulled the first round of the presidential election, held on 24 November, in an unprecedented decision, citing “multiple irregularities,” including violations of campaign finance regulations and lack of equal opportunities for candidates.  On 2 December, the Constitutional Court confirmed the results of the election following a recount in view of legal challenges brought by Presidential candidate Cristian Vasile Terheș. However, the Court then reversed the decision, announcing the annulment amid ongoing voting in the run-off in the diaspora, and following statements by the Supreme Council for National Defense (CSAT) that cited evidence of cyberattacks and Russian efforts to influence Romanian social cohesion. CSAT also criticized TikTok for promoting campaign content without proper labelling, violating electoral law. On 29 November, the European Commission ordered TikTok to report on its management of information manipulation risks under the EU’s Digital Services Act. As a next step, the government will establish a timeline for a new presidential election, expected in spring 2025. 

Sources: European Commission, Digi24, Foreign Policy, Constitutional Court, Supreme Council for National Defense (CSAT), RFERL, The Conversation