Some Romanian politicians are warning that Russia, Iran, China and North Korea may try and meddle in upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.
Romanian Liberal Party leader Nicolae Ciuca on Monday said that two Romanian nationalist parties, AUR şi SOS who are standing in the elections “represent Moscow’s interests. It’s essential we act firmly so that these forces don’t influence Romania’s democratic future,” he said in the strongest words to date from a senior politician during a visit to neighboring Moldova.
Ciuca, a former prime minister and defense minister, is running for president in the Nov. 24 ballot.
The Liberal Party has voiced concern about meddling in the elections. The President of the Parliamentary Commission for the Oversight of Romania’s Intelligence Agency has formally asked the SRI agency to confirm whether it has identified any domestic or foreign entities that seek to influence Romania’s electoral process.
Ioan Chirteș, a Liberal lawmaker, said that state actors such as Russia, Iran, China and North Korea, as well as other state actors in proxy countries in the Middle East might interfere in the elections.
Elena Lasconi, who is running for president, also called on SRI to clarify the travel ban on nationalist leader George Simion, a presidential candidate, who has been banned from entering Moldova and Ukraine.
Lasconi noted that Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced that he had asked for written explanations regarding Simion’s ban in Moldova 265 days ago, but has received no response. “We already know from Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean that Simion is part of efforts to destabilize the country,” Lasconi said.
Liberal Senator Daniel Fenechiu, asked Chirteș whether any “state or non-state entities, either within Romania or abroad, could influence the electoral process in the presidential and parliamentary campaigns…. posing a threat to national security,” Agerpres reported.
He added that non-state actors include private entities that may engage in cyber-attacks against Romanian state institutions – such as the foreign, interior and health ministries – and even demand ransoms for data recovery.
Former General Ciuca needs to get into battle gear if he wants to be president
