“Protests in Romania have been ongoing since December 6, when the Constitutional Court annulled the election two days before the second round amid accusations of Russian interference”, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
Protesters blocked traffic in Bucharest, demanding the Constitutional Court to review its decision to annul the presidential election.
Protests in Romania have been ongoing since December 6, when the Constitutional Court annulled the election two days before the second round, amid accusations of Russian interference.
Protesters carried placards reading “Democracy”, “Freedom” and “Give us back the second round”, demanding that the court overturn its decision.
They also called for the resignation of President Klaus Iohannis, whose term of office has expired but who remains as head of state until his successor is elected.
A little-known previously independent candidate, Celin Georgescu, won the first round of voting in the Nov. 24 election with about 23 percent of the vote. In the second round of elections on December 8, he was supposed to meet with the pro-European center-right Yelena Lasconi.
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However, after Romania’s National Security Council declassified documents indicating possible interference by an unnamed “state actor” (presumably Russia), the Constitutional Court annulled the first round of voting and ordered new elections to be held in the next few months
The far-right candidate’s first place in the first round of the presidential election has sparked fears and protests, especially among young Romanians, about the future of democracy in the country.
Incumbent President Klaus Iohannis was extended accordingly, although his second five-year term expired in mid-December.