By 
Koridze Elisabedi
Red Dot, May 5, 2022
Romania is getting ready for the rerun of the Presidential Elections that took place in November 2024.
Romania is preparing for a new presidential election following the unprecedented annulment of its 2024 vote. The 2024 Romanian presidential election marked a critical moment in the country’s constitutional history, raising serious questions about electoral integrity and democratic resilience. Initially held in November, the election was annulled by the Constitutional Court just before the planned runoff in December.
On December 6th, 2024, the Constitutional Court ruled that the results must be annulled due to serious foreign interference, the first such decision in Romania’s post-communist history. The Court ordered the electoral process to restart entirely. It pointed to hybrid attacks and undisclosed foreign interference that allegedly benefited far-right candidate Călin Georgescu, who had unexpectedly led the first round with nearly 23 percent of the vote. Intelligence reports pointed to Russian efforts to influence the election in favour of specific candidates.
Călin Georgescu, an independent candidate, is known for his nationalist rhetoric, anti-Western views, and ties to extremist circles. Between 1999 and 2012, he represented Romania on the national committee of the UN Environment Programme. Previously affiliated with Romania’s far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, he left the party in 2022 after being accused of pro-Russian sympathies and criticising NATO. Georgescu has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as “a man who loves his country” and described Ukraine as “an invented state.”
During the campaign, Georgescu built a strong base among younger voters through social media platforms such as TikTok. His platform focused on sovereignty, military neutrality, and rejecting EU centralisation, messages that resonated with rural voters and far-right audiences alike.
The Court’s decision sparked protests and strong reactions both domestically and abroad. Georgescu challenged the annulment before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), arguing that it violated his right to free elections under Article 3 of Protocol No. 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights. He claimed the decision was unlawful, disproportionate, and politically motivated. However, in March 2025, the ECtHR unanimously declared his application inadmissible. The decision is final and confirms that the annulment was based on credible and well-documented concerns about democratic integrity and foreign interference.
The Court held that Article 3 of Protocol No. 1, which protects the right to free elections, applies only to the election of a country’s legislature. Because the Romanian Constitution clearly states that the president is not part of the legislative branch, the Court concluded that this provision was not relevant to the annulled presidential election. Therefore, Georgescu’s main claim was rejected as inadmissible.
Meanwhile, Romania is heading toward a rerun of the presidential election, now scheduled for May 2025. The new vote will take place under stricter regulations, including increased cybersecurity measures and more transparent campaign financing rules. As Romania approaches this crucial vote, the stakes remain high. The country stands at a crossroads between democratic consolidation and the growing influence of far-right populism.
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