Romania faces political turmoil after annulled presidential election

This Sunday, Romanians were supposed to elect a president via a second-round run-off. Instead, the country is grappling with political uncertainty after the Constitutional Court annulled the first round, citing irregularities and allegations of foreign interference.

The news has left voters shocked and divided.

"They try to rig the elections," said Matei Stancerscu, a supporter of pro-Russian candidate Călin Georgescu. "All the other people from the other political parties feel it too."

The annulment follows weeks of controversy surrounding Georgescu, who unexpectedly won the first round of voting. His campaign was propelled by a TikTok blitz, which Romanian authorities later deemed irregular.

A court-ordered recount and declassified intelligence documents revealed issues with campaign financing and alleged foreign influence by Russia. Moscow denies the claims.

Remus Pricopie, the rector of the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, said the Constitutional Court had no choice but to act.

"In a democracy, if one step in a process is illegal, you cannot proceed to the next," said Pricopie. "The court underlined clear signs of illegality, including financial irregularities and a TikTok campaign linked to the Russian Federation."

TikTok responded to the allegations, stating it is cooperating with Romanian and European authorities.

"Over the last few weeks, we've proactively identified and disrupted several covert influence networks," TikTok said in a statement. "We've removed tens of thousands of fake accounts and banned hundreds impersonating candidates."

Authorities also conducted raids targeting groups they say funded Georgescu's campaign. Investigators reported uncovering cryptocurrency transactions worth millions of dollars.

The annulment has deepened existing divisions in Romania. Some see it as necessary to safeguard democracy, while others feel disenfranchised.

"This will become a key division line in Romanian society," said Claudiu Tufis, a political science professor at the University of Bucharest. "Many Georgescu supporters believe their votes have been taken away by the state."

For many Romanians, the crisis is a blow to their hopes for stronger ties with the European Union.

"This is a test for democracy," said one voter at a rally in Bucharest. "Democracy is being tested by this event."

Georgescu, who denies all allegations, appeared alongside supporters at a closed polling station Sunday. He vowed to continue his campaign.

Meanwhile, analysts warn that rebuilding trust in Romania's institutions will be difficult. With the election annulled, Romanians will likely return to the polls next year. However, no timeline has been set.

Romania's democratic institutions face immense pressure to restore faith in the electoral process. Whether they succeed remains uncertain.