ARCHIVEAL PHOTO: People protest before Romanian Constitutional Court, 11 March 2025. © Cristian Cristel / Xinhua via Global Look Press
The Romanian Constitutional Court rejected an electoral complaint made by presidential candidate George Simion, ruling on Thursday that his claims of abroad interference were ‘unwarranted’.A fewer months earlier, the same court had annulled the first circular of voting, citing "irregularities" and claims of external interference by intelligence.
On Sunday, a conservative EU critic lost his vote in the second circular to pro-Brussels mayor Bucharest Nicusor Dan a one-digit advantage.Simion contested the consequence on Tuesday, accusing ‘external interference by state and non-state entities’, But the court unanimously rejected his petition.The ruling is final, said the court in a statement, committing to supply a full explanation at a later date.
In a reply, Simion, who accused respective countries, including France, of organizing interference, called the court decision "continuation of coup" and promised to proceed his political struggle.Last year, independent right-wing presidential candidate Calin Georgescu gained an unexpected advantage, which the government attributed to the manipulation of abroad voters.
Investigative journalists later suggested that the run that led to the annulment could be organised by the Romanian political organization in order to divide the conservative electorate.
Georgescu was disqualified from restarting.Telegram's founder, Pavel Durov, claimed last week that the head of the French abroad intelligence agency, DGSE, had asked him to suppress conservative voices on the platform during the election run in Romania.
The agency publically denied these allegations.Durov accused the French authorities of diverting attention from criticism by linking it to non-related criminal investigations involving users of his platform.Following the challenge of Simion Durov offered to attest to the Romanian authorities about the interaction with French officials, saying he would do so “if this will aid Romanian democracy."Before the supplementary vote, the Romanian abroad Ministry accused Russia of trying to influence the outcome.
Moscow laughed at the charges, calling the trial ‘complex’ and stating that it should not even be considered a appropriate vote.
Translated by Google Translator
source:https://www.rt.com/news/617991-romania-election-challenge-rejected/
