Romanians concerned about their country and the future of democracy took to the streets on Sunday. According to Associated Press, tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered at Cotroceni Palace, the residence of Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, in Bucharest, demanding respect for the results of the first round of the presidential election, which was annulled by the Constitutional Court last December, and calling for the second round of the election to be held.
As reported by Hungarian Conservative, the first round of Romania’s presidential election was held on 24 November, with the ultranationalist, EU- and NATO-critical candidate Călin Georgescu receiving the highest share of votes, at 22 per cent. The liberal Save Romania Union (USR) candidate, Elena Lasconi, came in second, which would have advanced both candidates to the second round. Notably, the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the National Liberal Party (PNL), the two largest establishment parties in Romania, were defeated in the first round.
However, the Romanian Constitutional Court annulled the results of the first round, citing allegations of Russian election interference. According to POLITICO Georgescu benefited from a TikTok campaign that resembled Kremlin-run influence operations in Ukraine and Moldova, based on declassified Romanian intelligence documents. The files alleged that Moscow was targeting Romania as an enemy state through aggressive hybrid actions.
In its official decision, the Constitutional Court referenced the illegal use of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, and the use of ‘undeclared sources’ of funding. Georgescu, notably, had declared zero campaign spending. However, as Brussels Signal recently pointed out, the intelligence documents cited in the ruling contained no concrete evidence of Russian interference.
Subsequent investigations by the National Agency for Fiscal Administration (ANAF), Romania’s tax authority, uncovered the origins of Călin Georgescu’s successful TikTok campaign: the PNL. The centre-right party’s campaign initially employed the hashtag #echilibrusiseriozitate to promote European values and pro-EU positions. Kensington Communication, the company responsible for the campaign, also targeted Georgescu’s content, aiming to counter his EU-critical rhetoric.
However, the hashtag #echilibrusiseriozitate, designed to create an unfavourable environment for non-liberal presidential candidates on TikTok, was replaced by #echilibrusiverticalitate on the FameUP platform—a free automated platform that amplifies marketing campaigns. Interestingly, this new hashtag was ultimately adopted and used by Georgescu’s supporters, transforming its purpose and amplifying his campaign’s visibility.
The Romanian government proposed 4 May as the date for a new presidential election. However, no formal decision was made since.
Călin Georgescu has since challenged the Constitutional Court’s decision at a local appeals court and lodged a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights. ‘I will take our cause to the heart of Europe, to the highest courts. Each of us is doing our part in this historic mission to defend our democracy,’ he declared.
The Reign of Progressives Coming to an End?
The Constitutional Court’s decision has been widely regarded—at least by those on the right of the political spectrum—as tantamount to a coup d’état, designed to preserve the country’s progressive, pro-EU, and pro-war leadership. Both Brussels and Washington defended the ruling, with the EU even launching an investigation into TikTok over allegations of election interference.
Prior to Sunday’s demonstration, Georgescu’s supporters took to the streets on Friday, continuing their (almost) weekly protests that have occurred regularly since the annulment of the election. ‘We are sorry to discover so late that we were living in a lie and that we were led by people who claimed to be democrats but are not at all,’ said George Simion, leader of the radical anti-Hungarian Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) party, which organized the demonstrations. ‘We demand a return to democracy through the resumption of elections, starting with the second round,’ he added.
‘The example of Romania demonstrates that the Western progressive elite is willing to go to any lengths to maintain power’
The example of Romania demonstrates that the Western progressive elite is willing to go to any lengths to maintain power. At the same time, ordinary citizens are increasingly seeing through these tactics and resisting attempts to manipulate them. Donald Trump’s victory in last November’s US presidential election has initiated a ripple effect already evident in Europe: sovereigntist and patriotic forces are gaining strength and positioning themselves to replace the faltering progressive elite.
This trend is particularly visible in Germany, where, with just over a month until February’s snap elections, the right-wing Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party continues to grow in support. Despite efforts by the establishment to marginalise the party—including recurring discussions about banning it—the AfD has become the second-largest political force in the country. Similarly, in Romania, recent polls show that Călin Georgescu remains the most popular presidential candidate, with some surveys suggesting that the ultranationalist contender could garner close to 40 per cent support.
Romania may serve as a pivotal stage in a broader ‘patriotic revolution,’ one that could see sovereignist forces achieve a majority across the continent. Such a shift would reverse long-standing trends and set Europe on a path toward a brighter future.
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