As EU probes TikTok, precedent-setting Romania announces date for election rerun

Romania’s government has approved a repeat presidential election in May after institutional chaos and controversy saw the ballot in November annulled. The rerun vote is scheduled for 4 May and – if no candidate secures a simple majority – another will be held on 18 May.

Romania’s Constitutional Court on 6 December voided the first round of its presidential election held on 24 November, citing evidence of Russian interference that allegedly benefited pro-Russian ultranationalist Calin Georgescu, whom local political observers have dubbed “Romania’s Trump”. The Court said its members had voted “to annul the entire electoral process for the election of the president of Romania (and) ensure the correctness and legality of the electoral process”.

Romania enters new territory in era of election interference

The unprecedented move reflects Romania’s determination to safeguard its democratic processes, especially as a NATO and EU member with strategic importance near Ukraine’s border. The cancellation of Georgescu’s first-round victory by Romania’s top court has laid bare Romania’s fragile political landscape, and issues around war-torn Ukraine, with which it shares a border of around 400km.

The annulment has provoked heated domestic reactions. Elena Lasconi, the pro-EU candidate who narrowly advanced to a second-round run-off, criticised the interference while reaffirming her commitment to democratic principles and Romania’s Western alignment. For his part, Georgescu has decried the annulment as undemocratic.

Allegations abounded of Georgescu’s drive involving foreign interference via social media platforms, notably TikTok, which has denied accusations of amplifying anti-Western rhetoric aligned with Russian interests. 

EU goes legal, invoking recent digital services law

The actions of Romania, which borders Ukraine, may set a precedent for how European countries address digital platform regulation during elections.

Suspicions of Russian election interference, which The Kremlin denies, have seen the European Commission (EC) go legal with Tiktok under the terms of the Digital Services Act (DSA), adopted in 2022, alleging that it failed to address the interference. Investigations into hybrid tactics, including cyberattacks and unlawful promotion, are ongoing. 

EC President Ursula von der Leyen said: “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 DSA by failing to tackle such risks. It should be crystal clear that in the EU, all online platforms, including TikTok, must be held accountable,” von der Leyen added.

Cancellation of election result provokes demonstrations

Meanwhile, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu’s government introduced new regulations to tighten social media oversight during elections, mandating the labelling of election materials and requiring platforms to remove non-compliant content within five hours of a request by election officials. Non-compliance could result in fines of 1-5% of the platform’s turnover, although how these fines would be enforced against non-Romania-registered entities remains in doubt.

The annulment has sparked political turmoil, as Georgescu denounced the decision as a coup d’etat. Tens of thousands reportedly protested in Bucharest on Sunday, 12 January, the second in a week, organised by the far-right AUR party. Protesters demanded the resignation of President Klaus Iohannis, who has remained in office pending the election of a successor.

Rights groups say the decree bypassed public consultation, failed to address deeper campaign financing issues and lacks legitimacy due to a lack of transparency and unclear enforcement mechanisms.

Civil society, international community

The stakes are high for Romania, a staunch NATO ally that has supported Ukraine by facilitating grain exports, providing military aid, and training pilots since Russia’s 2022 invasion. Georgescu’s campaign statements opposing Ukrainian aid and NATO commitments sparked alarm among Western allies, underscoring the geopolitical implications of Romania’s leadership.

Romania’s plight has shown the vulnerability of countries in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) to Russian meddling. While countries like Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Czechia have experienced similar challenges, Romania’s decisive move has set a new precedent for combating foreign interference and protecting electoral integrity.

The case also raises the issue of balancing democratic resilience and digital freedom. As the EC continues its investigation into TikTok, Romania’s case reflects the EU’s increasing focus on curbing disinformation and foreign interference across the bloc.

While the new rules aim to restore public trust and safeguard electoral integrity, Romania’s ability to implement the new measures and foster confidence in its democratic processes will be closely watched in Europe and beyond. 

The US State Department has expressed concerns over Russian cyber activity but emphasized the importance of Romania’s continued alignment with Western values. Meanwhile, Romania’s four pro-Western parties are working to counterbalance far-right influence in Parliament, highlighting broader efforts to protect the region from destabilising Kremlin interference.