Accusations of Russian meddling, dubious TikTok accounts, and covert payments to online influencers led to the annulment of far-right candidate Calin Georgescu’s unexpected victory in the first round of elections. Moscow refuted claims of election meddling.
Georgescu was arrested, is currently prohibited from running, and is being investigated for a crime that includes trying to overturn constitutional law. He accused the authorities of “inventing evidence to justify stealing the election” and disputed the claims.
In the first round of the election rerun on Sunday, George Simion, the leader of Romania’s far-right AUR party, has been favored by pollsters.
Nicușor Dan, an independent, and Crin Antonescu of the National Liberal Party trail him in the polls.
