Electoral chaos in Romania: how Trump and Putin sow discord to stir up tensions in Europe

By: Elora Bain

On November 24, 2024, a political earthquake struck Romania. This European country in Eastern Europe of 19 million inhabitants, a member of the European Union (EU) and NATO, saw a candidate, unknown to the general public a few weeks earlier, arriving at the top of the first round of the presidential election. Călin Georgescu, notorious conspiracy, candidate of the Romanian far right and admirer of Vladimir Putin is – obviously – firmly opposed to the support of Bucharest to Ukraine. He won the first round of the ballot to everyone’s surprise.

Quickly, the Romanian judicial institutions detected irregularities in the election and, it seems, a Russian interference, in particular through intense propaganda on social networks, in particular on Tiktok. On December 6, the Romanian Constitutional Court judged that the election was compromised and was to be canceled. Since then, Călin Georgescu has been charged on February 26 by the justice of his country for “false declarations” on the sources of financing his electoral campaign and for “incitement to unconstitutional actions” (among others). Sunday, March 9, the far -right candidate was excluded from the next ballot by the Romanian electoral commission and this decision was confirmed on appeal by the Romanian Constitutional Court, Tuesday, March 11.

For European countries, this decision illustrates the desire of Romania to slow down the drifts of a country undermined by endemic corruption, in a context of increasing tensions between Europe and Russia, engaged in a hybrid war against several EU states. However, the judgment of the Constitutional Court has aroused numerous criticisms, especially after the ban on Călin Georgescu to represent himself in the presidential election, postponed to May 4 and 18, 2025.

“A direct blow was brought to the heart of democracy around the world! I have a message to transmit! If democracy in Romania falls, the whole democratic world will fall! This is only the beginning. It’s that simple! Europe is now a dictatorship, Romania is under the yoke of a tyranny! ”wrote Călin Georgescu, on March 9, on network X after the decision rendered by Romanian institutions.

After confirmation of the verdict, on March 11, the former Prorussian candidate presented a layer on the same social network, with a touch of irony. “Today, the masters have decided: no equality, no freedom, no fraternity for the Romanians. Long live France and Brussels, long live their colony called Romania. While America becomes large again, Europe and Romania have become insignificant, corrupt and dictatorship. Our indifference, as well as that of our partners, will be paid by the broken soul of our people! ”

For the American far right, an attack on democracy

Elon Musk and US vice-president JD Vance had already denounced the cancellation of this election, accusing the European elites of rejecting the verdict of the ballot boxes. Sunday, March 9, Elon Musk retweeted messages criticizing the exclusion of Călin Georgescu by the electoral office, qualifying in passing the decision of “crazy” And thus attributing tensions to Romania.

The support of the new American administration to the Prorussian candidate is not a surprise, sums up the online magazine Politico Europe. On the other hand, it arouses questions in Romania, where the rapprochement between Russia and the United States raises questions. During the Cold War, Romania, one of the most pro-Western Communist States, had links with Washington while distrusting the Kremlin.

In addition, Romania is home to a site of the American anti -missile shield and a strategic NATO base, currently changing to become the largest in Europe. What would happen with political force prorussian at the head of the country?

“In the end, all of this benefits the Kremlin. (…) Normally, in a country like Romania where a strong anti -Russian feeling reigns, we would expect people to be put off by all this. But I think it is the opposite that occurs ”estimates Oana Popescu-Zamfir, director of the Globalfocus Center, a reflection group on foreign policy, based in Bucharest. Hence the total confusion prevailing in the country today.

With the United States’s diplomatic turnaround in favor of Moscow after Donald Trump’s victory in the American presidential election, Washington no longer hesitates to show his support for opposite parties for European liberals and centrists. Elon Musk’s recent support to Alice Weidel, AFD far -right candidate in the February 2025 legislative elections in Germany is one of the best demonstrations.

Elora Bain

Elora Bain

I'm the editor-in-chief here at News Maven, and a proud Charlotte native with a deep love for local stories that carry national weight. I believe great journalism starts with listening — to people, to communities, to nuance. Whether I’m editing a political deep dive or writing about food culture in the South, I’m always chasing clarity, not clicks.