Romania’s Constitutional Court has ordered a full recount of votes from Sunday’s first-round presidential election after allegations surfaced that TikTok provided “preferential treatment” to the surprise frontrunner, Calin Georgescu.
The court dismissed separate accusations by two losing candidates, who claimed Georgescu benefited from illegal campaign financing.
Georgescu, a far-right, pro-Russia independent candidate, relied heavily on TikTok for his campaign. The platform, which has denied any favoritism, faces accusations from Romania’s top security body, the Supreme Council of National Defence, for allegedly violating electoral rules by failing to properly label Georgescu’s account as belonging to a political candidate.
Georgescu secured 23% of the vote, edging out Elena Lasconi of the Save Romania Union, who earned 19%. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu of the ruling Social Democrats finished third. Georgescu and Lasconi are set to compete in a runoff on December 8, but the recount could alter the race’s trajectory.
The Central Election Bureau has been tasked with determining the procedure, timeline, and personnel required for the unprecedented recount.
Lasconi, the runner-up, called for fairness in the recount process.
“Extremism is fought by voting, not backstage games,” she said. “The law must be the same for all, not interpreted differently for some.”
Meanwhile, Georgescu defended his campaign and criticized state institutions for questioning his legitimacy.
“The campaign budget was zero. We had a small team, but millions of supporters,” Georgescu said. “This is about the Romanian people. They want freedom, democracy, and family values.”
Georgescu has amassed over 330,000 TikTok followers—up from just 30,000 two weeks ago—and garnered more than 4 million likes.
TikTok has denied allegations of electoral interference, stating:
“It is categorically false to claim his account was treated differently. When Romanian authorities flagged issues, we addressed them within 24 hours.”
Romania’s telecom regulator, Ancom, has called for TikTok to be suspended while prosecutors investigate potential electoral manipulation. The National Audiovisual Council has also requested the European Commission to probe TikTok’s role in the election, as the platform officially bans political advertising.
Georgescu’s unexpected success has triggered protests in Bucharest and other cities, with anti-Georgescu demonstrators voicing concerns about his controversial rhetoric and affiliations. Georgescu has urged his supporters to remain calm and avoid confrontation.
The presidential election results have shaken Romania’s political landscape. The ruling coalition parties, the Social Democrats and National Liberals, are reeling from their candidates’ poor performances. Meanwhile, far-right parties AUR and SOS Romania are gaining momentum ahead of this weekend’s parliamentary elections.
As Romania grapples with elation, despair, and confusion, the recount and its implications could further reshape the country’s political future.
SOURCE: BBC
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