Romania has been engulfed in political turmoil following the annulment of independent candidate Călin Georgescu’s victory in the first round of presidential elections, sparking protests led by nationalist parties like the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR). AUR leader George Simion and thousands of demonstrators have demanded the resignation of President Klaus Iohannis and a rescheduling of elections.
Disputed Numbers and Public Concerns
AUR spokespersons said over 100,000 attended the protest in University Square, indignant over Călin Georgescu being cheated out of the presidency. Protesters carried signs demanding Iohannis’ arrest and accusing media outlets of spreading misinformation. Chants targeting journalists were also heard among the crowds. Banners featured slogans such as “Călin Georgescu, a man of God,” “God is with us,” and “Traitors.” West-backed Iohannis now clings to power based on the unsubstantiated claim the Russians somehow interfered with the Romanian elections. The whole affair is ridiculous, given that Georgescu chose to run most of his campaign on TikTok rather than the corporate-owned mainstream media.
Given that President Iohannis’ administration holds an unfair advantage in state-owned media in Romania (TVR), voters turning to social media only seems logical. Even Freedom House rated the Romanian media only “partly free.” Given that the country’s constitution guarantees free access to public information, a candidate winning an election from billboards or leaflets is legal. The geniuses in Washington and Brussels conjured up some more Russophobic BS to justify a fake democracy. As proof Brussels has dirty fingers, the EU has filed a formal inquest against TikTok under the Digital Services Act. EU President Ursula von der (Clucky) Leyen issued this statement about the Romania spoof:
“We must protect our democracies from any kind of foreign interference. Whenever we suspect such interference, especially during elections, we have to act swiftly and firmly. Following serious indications that foreign actors interfered in the Romanian presidential elections by using TikTok, we are now thoroughly investigating whether TikTok has violated the Digital Services Act by failing to tackle such risks. It should be crystal clear that in the EU, all online platforms, including TikTok, must be held accountable.”
If only all world media were held to such standards, we might be able to discern the truth!
Political Chaos and Uncertainty
Protests have persisted since December 6, soon after the Constitutional Court annulled the election days before its second round. The court argued that an unfair social media campaign, reportedly benefiting Georgescu, influenced the process. Authorities suggested this might have involved Russian meddling, an allegate which, even if proven, would not equate to changing the winners of round one. This ludicrousness can only have come from Washington and the EU freak show. The claim is tantamount to silencing those Romanians tired of the Russophobia, proxy wars, and their country being used as a profiteering target for the Central Europeans.
Simion told the media, “These protests will continue until there is justice. Romania cannot have a democracy with such irregularities.” Meanwhile, he disclosed plans for meetings with international conservative allies in Europe and the United States. The interim coalition government proposed rescheduling the first round of the elections for May 4 and holding the second on May 18. Thus far, no binding decision was made during the most recent cabinet meeting. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu promised clarity in the coming days.
Divided Political Landscape
As if Romania needed further reason to mistrust the government, this election’s annulment has strained public confidence in every institution. The Romanian people are now more polarized in their opinions than they have been in decades. The move away from mainstream political parties is a crisp new reality. Nationalists now command significant influence, holding over a third of the seats in parliament.
Călin Georgescu, who currently polls above 40%, has resurfaced as a key figure in the nationalist movement. His opposition to NATO and criticism of Romania’s support for Ukraine have divided opinion in his country and across Eastern Europe. On departing Romania to appeal to European institutions, Georgescu commented, “This is our mission. Each of us is fighting to protect democracy.”
Romanian Cauldron
USR leader Elena Lasconi has condemned the government’s prolonged indecision, accusing the administration of ignoring public discontent. She accused those responsible for being incompetent and shattering the public trust. Meanwhile, Romania remains in limbo, with the second round of the election becoming increasingly crucial. President Klaus Iohannis, whose mandate ended on December 21, continues in office until a successor is elected. The outcome remains uncertain amid rising polarization and persistent protest movements in the heart of Eastern Europe.
If most Romanians knew that Romania’s most prominent private media companyTVR is owned by Central European Media Enterprises Ltd., perhaps more would turn to Elon Musk’s “X” and TikTok. Interestingly, this network was co-founded in 1991 by Americans Ronald Lauder and Mark Palmer in Germany as CEDC GmbH (Central European Development Corporation). Oh, and Time Warner also owns a one-third stake in the media company. We needn’t dive too deeply into who is behind all this. To save the reader eyestrain and time, the liberal world order that’s run the Western world for decades has tilted the game again.
Sadly, not all Romanians are out in the streets demanding justice and fairness. Romania’s second-biggest private media company, Antena 1, is part of Intact Media Group. This company’s leadership has been accused of using the media to sway elections, and its founder was convicted of money laundering. The group is run by Camelia Voiculescu, the daughter of the controversial Romanian billionaire Dan Voiculescu, who is also a politician. On a final note, TikTok is now the world’s most popular website, surpassing even Google. But don’t attempt to get a following there; the Gestapo may well visit you, and you’ll never get to be president of Romania. You must always use the APPROVED channels!
Phil Butler, is a policy investigator and analyst, a political scientist and expert on Eastern Europe, he’s an author of the recent bestseller “Putin’s Praetorians” and other books