Romania’s upcoming presidential election has been rocked by allegations of foreign interference, with intelligence agencies pointing to a refined campaign on social media platform TikTok and a series of cyberattacks.
Romania’s domestic intelligence service has revealed evidence suggesting the effort was “coordinated by a state-sponsored actor.” The agency’s findings come just days before the second round of voting, casting a shadow over the electoral process.
Calin Georgescu, a far-right, NATO-skeptic candidate who has previously praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, stunned the nation by securing a surprise victory in the frist round of voting two weeks ago. His sudden surge in popularity has now been attributed to a “highly organized” and ”guerrilla” social media campaign, according to Romanian intelligence.
The intelligence service alleges that the campaign involved the dissemination of identical messaging and the use of influencers, all orchestrated from “external locations” to circumvent controls.
Adding to the intrigue, a seperate intelligence assessment identifies Romania as an “enemy state” in the eyes of Moscow, marking it as a prime target for what Russia calls “aggressive hybrid actions.”
These explosive revelations, made public by outgoing President Klaus Iohannis, are based on declassified documents. The documents expose how paid content promoting Georgescu was disseminated on TikTok without being labeled as election campaigning, a clear violation of both platform rules and Romanian electoral law. Othre candidates’ content faced stricter scrutiny.
Georgescu has consistently maintained that he spent “zero” on election promotion, denying any active campaigning efforts.Though, the intelligence documents identify a specific TikTok account that allegedly made payments totaling $381,000 in a single month to users promoting Georgescu.
“I think it’s the first time in the history of the world when a state is organizing an action against a candidate to stop him from running,” Georgescu claimed in a television interview on wednesday, dismissing the released documents as a coordinated attempt to derail his candidacy. He also denied any knowledge of the influencers or funders mentioned in the reports.
The unprecedented release of these documents, originally prepared for a security council meeting following the first round of voting, also reveals that access data for electoral websites was stolen from legitimate users and subsequently published online on “cyber-crime platforms originating from Russia.”
Furthermore, intelligence agencies report approximately 85,000 attempted hacks targeting electoral data and content, including on election day. The report characterizes the cyberattackers’ methods as advanced and designed to maintain anonymity, suggesting a level of sophistication “typical of state-sponsored actors.”
An examination is currently underway to determine the perpetrators of these cyberattacks and assess the potential impact on the election.
Romania’s presidential election is facing a wave of controversy as allegations of Russian interference surface just days before the crucial second round vote. Far-right candidate Dan Barna Georgescu, who secured the most votes in the first round, is now facing accusations of receiving illicit support from Russia.
The allegations, which have been vehemently denied by Russia, stem from newly released documents that are currently under investigation by Romanian prosecutors. These documents have sparked outrage and calls for a thorough investigation into the matter.
“I hope that, based on the evidence published today, the state authorities will take appropriate action, and all those responsible will be held accountable,” declared Romanian Prime minister Marcel Ciolacu, who finished third in the presidential race. Ciolacu has thrown his full support behind reformist candidate Elena Lasconi, who will face Georgescu in the runoff election scheduled for Sunday.
Ciolacu emphasized the importance of upholding Romania’s commitment to its european path, stating that the people’s votes reflect their desire for continued progress within the European Union.
In response to the allegations, Georgescu has urged his supporters to remain calm and avoid any potential unrest. He drew a parallel to the 2014 Maidan revolution in Ukraine,warning against similar upheavals. “Please stay at home with yoru family. We need social tranquillity. God will not let Romania down,” he said.
simultaneously occurring, pro-EU demonstrators have planned a rally for Thursday evening, adding another layer of tension to the already charged political atmosphere.
The outcome of the investigation and the subsequent actions taken by Romanian authorities will undoubtedly have a notable impact on the upcoming election and the future direction of the country.
## Romanian Election Scandal: An Expert Interview
**World-Today-News Exclusive**
The upcoming Romanian presidential election has been thrown into turmoil by serious allegations of foreign interference.
**World-Today-News** sat down with Dr. Ileana Dumitrescu, an expert on Romanian politics and cyber security at bucharest University, to dissect the explosive revelations and their potential impact on the democratic process.
**WTN:** Dr. Dumitrescu, Romania’s intelligence services have revealed evidence of a complex, state-sponsored campaign aimed at influencing the election. Just how serious are these allegations?
**Dr. Dumitrescu:** These allegations are profoundly serious. We’re talking about the potential manipulation of an entire democratic election through a meticulously planned campaign leveraging social media and potentially cyberattacks. This isn’t just about individual candidates; it strikes at the heart of Romania’s democratic institutions and its sovereignty.
**WTN:** The focus has been on Calin Georgescu’s surprise frist-round victory. What role have intelligence agencies suggested foreign interference played in his campaign?
**Dr. Dumitrescu:** Romanian intelligence alleges that a ”highly organized” and ”guerrilla” social media campaign was run on Georgescu’s behalf. This apparently involved the use of paid influencers, the dissemination of identical messaging, and a deliberate circumvention of platform rules and electoral law, all orchestrated from outside Romania.
**WTN:** The timing of these revelations, mere days before the second round of voting, is undoubtedly impactful.Do you think it will sway voters?
**Dr. Dumitrescu:** Its hard to say definitively.Some voters might potentially be swayed by the accusations, while others may see them as a last-minute attempt to discredit Georgescu. The damage may be done regardless,as it fosters distrust in the democratic process and creates an atmosphere of uncertainty.
**WTN:**
Georgescu himself has denied any knowledge of the campaign and accuses the outgoing president of orchestrating a smear campaign. How credible do you find his denials?
**Dr. Dumitrescu:** Georgescu’s claim that he spent “zero” on election promotion is directly contradicted by the intelligence reports, which detail significant financial transactions on his behalf. His dismissal of the entire affair as a conspiracy against him raises concerns about his willingness to engage with democratic norms and accept accountability.
**WTN:** Beyond the immediate impact on this election, what are the long-term implications of such blatant foreign interference in a democratic process?
**Dr. Dumitrescu:** This incident exposes the vulnerability of democratic institutions in the age of social media and cyber warfare. It highlights the need for robust defenses against foreign interference, increased transparency from social media platforms, and a commitment from political actors to uphold democratic principles even in the face of adversity.the erosion of trust in democratic processes is a perilous phenomenon, and we must actively combat it.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
