Foreign press on the cancellation of the Romanian presidential elections

The annulment of Romania's presidential elections and the possibility that a candidate with extremist and sovereignist views may have become head of state are the subject of analysis in the foreign press.

Why, asks the BBC, is Friday's decision by Romania's constitutional court to restart the presidential election from scratch important, after secret services presented documents showing illegal campaign financing for candidate Calin Georgescu and Russian involvement in the electoral process? Because Romania is a key NATO member on its eastern flank and has a long border with Ukraine. The BBC also points out that the recent presidential vote in Moldova also took place amid alleged Russian interference and electoral fraud, while in Georgia, on the other side of the Black Sea, the pro-Western opposition claims that the disputed elections there were marred by Kremlin interference.

France Presse reports that the possible victory of Calin Georgescu, a candidate with a mystic-nationalist discourse, has sparked fears in Brussels and Washington of a strategic reorientation of Romania, an EU country that has become a pillar of NATO since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. AFP also notes that according to Romanian authorities, the Romanian candidate benefited from a coordinated guerrilla campaign on the Chinese-origin platform TikTok, which has denied the allegations but has been placed under increased EU surveillance.

Calin Georgescu has shown his admiration for Vladimir Putin in the past, but now says he is not a fan and denies any ties with Russia. He opposes aid for Ukraine and advocates above all the search for peace, a common stance among supporters of Russian rhetoric, France Presse adds.

Translated by: Radu Matei