Romania is facing fresh political uncertainty after a local appeals court in the city of Ploiești issued a controversial ruling rejecting the annulment of the country’s 2024 presidential election—an annulment previously declared by the Constitutional Court over suspected foreign interference.
The original vote, held in November 2024, was scrapped by Romania’s top court following credible allegations of Russian cyber meddling and social media manipulation. The Constitutional Court’s decision, handed down in early 2025, cited national security concerns and breaches of electoral integrity. These allegations centered on the activities of far-right candidate Călin Georgescu, whose campaign was allegedly supported by disinformation operations linked to Moscow.
Despite the Constitutional Court’s decision—which under Romanian law is meant to be final and binding—the Ploiești appeals court unexpectedly challenged the annulment, throwing the legal and political framework into disarray just weeks before a planned two-round election rerun scheduled for May 4 and May 18.
The ruling has triggered what Romanian and international media have called “legal chaos,” casting doubt over the legitimacy of both the judicial process and the upcoming elections. According to The Guardian, legal scholars argue that the Ploiești court lacked jurisdiction to overturn the Constitutional Court’s ruling, and most observers expect a higher court to invalidate the local decision in the coming days.
In the wake of the annulment, Georgescu was barred from participating in the rerun. With his removal from the race, attention has shifted to George Simion, leader of the far-right AUR party, who has surged in popularity but remains a polarising figure. As noted by The Guardian, questions persist about Simion’s own links to disinformation networks and foreign influence.
The political instability has raised alarm in Brussels and Washington, where officials are closely monitoring the developments amid broader concerns over democratic backsliding in parts of Eastern Europe.
As of now, Romania’s electoral authority is moving ahead with preparations for the May vote, even as legal challenges and appeals continue to ripple through the judiciary.
References:
- The Guardian, “Legal chaos as Romanian court rules against annulment of presidential vote” (April 25, 2025)
Link to article - Associated Press, “Romanian court challenges annulled presidential vote amid foreign interference claims” (April 2025)
Link to article
The Central Hall of Ploieşti, Romania on Flickr by Albacore70 – Famille Toma T. Socolescu
