Romania's top court has ordered a vote recount in the first round of the presidential election, citing the need for re-verification and recounting of the voting ballots for the Nov. 24 election. This decision comes amidst a surge in support for independent far-right politician Calin Georgescu, who unexpectedly emerged victorious in the initial round of voting.
The move to recount the votes has raised questions about the credibility of state institutions in Romania, a European Union and NATO member state. Georgescu, known for his far-right views and controversial statements, is set to face centrist contender Elena Lasconi in a run-off on December 8.
The electoral process in Romania has been marred by turmoil, with conservative candidate Cristian Terhes challenging the election outcome and calling for its annulment. The court has postponed a ruling on Terhes' request but has ordered a recount of the votes.
The recount process is expected to take several days, according to the head of the country's election authority. Georgescu's unexpected success has been attributed to his popularity among young voters and Romanians living abroad, with his campaign leveraging social media platforms like TikTok.
Concerns have been raised about the role of TikTok in the election, prompting calls for the platform to be suspended pending an investigation. However, TikTok has denied any wrongdoing and stated that most candidates utilized its platform for campaigning.
In light of potential national security risks, Romania's top security body is set to discuss cybersecurity threats posed by both state and non-state entities. This comes after a far-right politician was banned from running in the presidential election in October, a move that was met with criticism from analysts, civil rights groups, and political parties.
