'Democracy is not optional': Thousands in Romania protest cancelled presidential elections

Tens of thousands of Romanians gathered in Bucharest on Sunday (January 12) to protest the Constitutional Court’s decision to annul the presidential election, a move that has plunged the country into political turmoil.

Waving Romania’s blue, yellow, and red flags, demonstrators honked car horns and held placards with slogans like “Democracy is not optional” and “We want free elections.” Many demanded that the presidential race resume from the second round.

The protest follows the court’s December decision to annul the election just two days before a scheduled December 8 runoff. Far-right populist Calin Georgescu had stunned many by winning the first round on November 24, prompting allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference.

“We are protesting against the coup d’état that took place on December 6,” George Simion, leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians and organizer of Sunday’s demonstration, told reporters. “We demand a return to democracy through the resumption of elections, starting with the second round.”

The court cited the illegal use of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, and “undeclared sources” of funding as reasons for annulling the election. Georgescu, who reported zero campaign spending, has denied wrongdoing and challenged the decision in a local appeals court and the European Court of Human Rights.

Observers attributed Georgescu’s surprise success to his TikTok presence, boasting 7.2 million likes and 646,000 followers. Romania’s top security body alleged his following was artificially inflated, claiming TikTok gave him preferential treatment over other candidates.

New election dates have been set, with the first round scheduled for May 4 and a potential runoff on May 18. It remains unclear whether Georgescu will be allowed to participate.

The cancelled election has sparked multiple protests in Romania, including another large demonstration in Bucharest on Friday. Romania, a European Union and Nato member, faces growing political uncertainty as tensions over the election reverberate.

With inputs from agencies