Romania is holding a re-run of its presidential election after the previous vote was annulled by the constitutional court due to irregularities. The annulled election revealed issues with campaign financing and the promotion of a pro-Georgescu agenda via fake social media accounts, which were flagged as part of a Russian influence operation. As the new elections approach, George Simion of the hard-right AUR party is anticipated to advance to the second round, highlighting rising populism and dissatisfaction among voters regarding economic challenges and conspiracy theories surrounding the election's annulment.
"The anti-establishment sentiment is not an anarchic movement; it is against the people who destroyed this country," Simion told the Associated Press, claiming that Romania is "not a democratic state anymore."
Alleged electoral violations included the activation of thousands of previously inactive social media accounts to spread pro-Georgescu messaging, part of an 'aggressive Russian hybrid attack,' which Moscow denies.
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