More than 1,000 mainly young have protested in Bucharest for the fourth evening running amid political and judicial turmoil following the first round of presidential elections.
The demonstration came hours after the Constitutional Court ordered a recount of the November 24 after a far-right pro-Russian candidate sent shockwaves through the political establishment by coming first.
In another development,Romania’s top defense body on Thursday said that cyber attacks had undermined the fairness of the election along with social media platform, TikTok.
The Supreme Council for State Security (CSAT) noted that one unnamed candidate (Ed’s note: Calin Georgescu who came first) benefited from ‘massive exposure’ on the platform.
It said TikTok did not respect the legal norms regarding the electoral process, which impacted the outcome. TikTok has denied wrongdoing.
The council also confirmed that Romania, along with other states on NATO’s Eastern Flank, had become a priority for the hostile actions of state and non-state actors, especially Russia.
Hard-right pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu came first in the November 24 ballot confounding the political establishment including his own supporters. He scored almost 23%, followed by Elena Lasconi, a centrist mayor who came second with 19.17%.
Again, protesters gathered in Bucharest’s University Square, shouting messages against Georgescu and the Constitutional Court after it ruled for a recount, a precedent in post-communist Romania. They held banners criticizing Romania’s intelligence services.
There have been protests in several cities this week, with many young people saying they are concerned that almost 23% of voters voted for a who in the past has praised pro-Nazi war time leaders and fascist Legionnaires, and delivered anti-EU and anti-NATO messages.
“Your children are free!” read one message echoing a photo during the 1989 revolution which said: “Our children will be free!”
“Shame on you, CCR” a reference to the court decision to order the recount and “CCR, don’t play with democracy.”
Romanian top court orders recount of presidential vote after election upset
