A French cyber security agency that helped uncover Russian interference in Romania’s cancelled presidential vote last year has warned it could happen again as the country prepares to vote in a presidential runoff this weekend.
Viginum, the French government body responsible for monitoring foreign digital interference, published a detailed report uncovering a sophisticated, large-scale Russian influence operation that used TikTok to manipulate the 24 presidential race.
The campaign, backed by Russian-linked networks, boosted outsider Calin Georgescu into first place and led Romanian court voiding the vote and setting new elections.
The decision triggered political instability and protests, and US Vice-President JD Vance, questioned the state of European democracy for canceling the runoff.
Romanian authorities have published evidence of meddling after the Dec. 8 vote was invalidated, citing evidence that a Russian influence operation had distorted the outcome.
The hashtag #calingeorgescu alone recorded more than 73 million views in just one week and he was the ninth most popular personality on TikTok .
Georgescu won almost 23 percent of the vote in the first round after polling single figures, following the sudden online push.
Nationalist George Simion, the successor to Georgescu won the first round with 41% and will meet centrist Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan for the second round.
