Romania's constitutional court on Thursday ordered a recount of votes cast in the first round of the presidential election after far-right candidate Calin Georgescu massively out-performed his pre-vote polling. Romania's media watchdog on Wednesday requested the European Commission formally investigate TikTok’s role in the election, alleging the social media platform had boosted Georgescu's support.
Issued on: 28/11/2024 -
By: NEWS WIRES
A man draped in the Romanian flag protests in Bucharest on November 27, 2024, against far-right pro-Russia candidate Calin Georgescu, the independent candidate who took a surprising lead in the first round of elections. © Vadim Ghirda, APRomania's presidential election was thrown into chaos Thursday as a court ordered a recount of first-round results and security officials alleged that interference via TikTok had boosted a little-known far-right candidate.
The moves came as the country braces for legislative polls plus a run-off vote between a far-right admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin and a pro-European centrist contender.
The Romanian presidency said security officials had detected "cyberattacks" intended to influence the outcome of Sunday's vote, which saw far-right candidate Calin Georgescu secure an unexpected first-round win.
Recount order, TikTok claims throw Romania election into chaos06:31
Georgescu knocked Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu out of the race, setting up a second-round standoff on December 8 with centrist Elena Lasconi, who placed second.
Another far-right candidate meanwhile went after Lasconi, securing an order from the constitutional court on Thursday for the first-round votes to be recounted.
The unsuccessful far-right candidate, EU parliament member Cristian Terhes, accused Lasconi's Union Save Romania (USR) party of continuing to campaign online after the legal deadline.
In response, the constitutional court unanimously ordered a "re-verification and recount of all ballots" from Sunday's vote, it said in a statement.
The court meanwhile rejected a separate request by another presidential candidate to annul the first round of the vote, ruling that the demand came too late.
The constitutional court is due to reconvene on Friday at 2:00 pm (1200 GMT).
TikTok election boost
Barely known outside Romania, Georgescu's popularity was allegedly boosted by viral TikTok campaigns calling for an end to aid for neighbouring Ukraine in its war with Russia and sounding a sceptical note on NATO.
On Thursday, a top Romanian security body said Georgescu was granted "preferential treatment" by social media platform TikTok that it said led to his "massive exposure".
In the statement, the Supreme Council of National Defence demanded authorities "urgently take the necessary steps" to shed light on the matter.
Georgescu rejected the claim, insisting in a statement that opponents "are trying... to eliminate the Romanian people's ability to think and choose according to their own moral, Christian and democratic principles".
He added: "Attempts are being made to attribute a real election result to any institution, including TikTok, but none of the media and current politicians attribute real credibility to the Romanian people."
The defence council also said officials had detected "cyberattacks aimed at influencing the correctness of the electoral process" in Sunday's vote.
It reported "a growing interest" on the part of Russia "to influence the public agenda in Romanian society".
On Wednesday, the European Commission said it had received a request from Romania's media regulator to open "a formal investigation into TikTok's role in the Romanian elections" under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA).
"If the Commission suspects a breach... it can open proceedings to look into TikTok's compliance with the DSA obligations," the Commission said in a statement.
'Unprecedented'
Under Romanian law, an election can be annulled if "fraud of such a nature as to alter the allocation of the mandate or... the order of the candidates eligible to participate in the second round of voting" is discovered.
"It's an unprecedented situation" since the fall of communism and the transition to democracy in 1989, former constitutional court judge Augustin Zegrean told Romanian channel Digi24.
"Things can take... a very bad and unfavourable direction," he said, as the electoral timetable is very tight.
The country holds parliamentary elections on Sunday, with the presidential runoff to follow a week later, amid fears they could herald a shift in its foreign policy.
Lasconi, who entered the runoff by a narrow margin of some 2,700 votes, denounced the recount announcement.
"The Constitutional Court is playing with national security," she said in a statement, adding that what it was "now trying to do is absolutely appalling for a democratic country".
"Extremism is fought through voting, not backroom games," she added.
(AFP)
Another far-right candidate meanwhile went after Lasconi, securing an order from the constitutional court on Thursday for the first-round votes to be recounted.
The unsuccessful far-right candidate, EU parliament member Cristian Terhes, accused Lasconi's Union Save Romania (USR) party of continuing to campaign online after the legal deadline.
In response, the constitutional court unanimously ordered a "re-verification and recount of all ballots" from Sunday's vote, it said in a statement.
The court meanwhile rejected a separate request by another presidential candidate to annul the first round of the vote, ruling that the demand came too late.
The constitutional court is due to reconvene on Friday at 2:00 pm (1200 GMT).
TikTok election boost
Barely known outside Romania, Georgescu's popularity was allegedly boosted by viral TikTok campaigns calling for an end to aid for neighbouring Ukraine in its war with Russia and sounding a sceptical note on NATO.
On Thursday, a top Romanian security body said Georgescu was granted "preferential treatment" by social media platform TikTok that it said led to his "massive exposure".
In the statement, the Supreme Council of National Defence demanded authorities "urgently take the necessary steps" to shed light on the matter.
Georgescu rejected the claim, insisting in a statement that opponents "are trying... to eliminate the Romanian people's ability to think and choose according to their own moral, Christian and democratic principles".
He added: "Attempts are being made to attribute a real election result to any institution, including TikTok, but none of the media and current politicians attribute real credibility to the Romanian people."
The defence council also said officials had detected "cyberattacks aimed at influencing the correctness of the electoral process" in Sunday's vote.
It reported "a growing interest" on the part of Russia "to influence the public agenda in Romanian society".
On Wednesday, the European Commission said it had received a request from Romania's media regulator to open "a formal investigation into TikTok's role in the Romanian elections" under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA).
"If the Commission suspects a breach... it can open proceedings to look into TikTok's compliance with the DSA obligations," the Commission said in a statement.
'Unprecedented'
Under Romanian law, an election can be annulled if "fraud of such a nature as to alter the allocation of the mandate or... the order of the candidates eligible to participate in the second round of voting" is discovered.
"It's an unprecedented situation" since the fall of communism and the transition to democracy in 1989, former constitutional court judge Augustin Zegrean told Romanian channel Digi24.
"Things can take... a very bad and unfavourable direction," he said, as the electoral timetable is very tight.
The country holds parliamentary elections on Sunday, with the presidential runoff to follow a week later, amid fears they could herald a shift in its foreign policy.
Lasconi, who entered the runoff by a narrow margin of some 2,700 votes, denounced the recount announcement.
"The Constitutional Court is playing with national security," she said in a statement, adding that what it was "now trying to do is absolutely appalling for a democratic country".
"Extremism is fought through voting, not backroom games," she added.
(AFP)
TikTok tactics shake up politics in Romania
By AFP
November 28, 2024
TikTok image: — © AFP/File Antonin UTZ
Fulya OZERKAN, with Paula CABESCU in Vienna
Barely known a year ago, far-right candidate Calin Georgescu successfully dominated social network TikTok to emerge the shock winner of Romania’s first-round presidential election — an online campaign that has raised suspicions.
Georgescu, an admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has surged to more than 450,000 followers on TikTok, racking up millions of views and five million likes in the country of 19 million people.
Romanian news site G4 Media, which conducted an analysis of Georgescu’s social media use, found the far-right politician mounted a “propaganda machine” using thousands of supposed “volunteers” to spread his anti-EU, anti-NATO messages.
It found his online allies received pre-made materials on messaging app Telegram, ready for posting as comments on TikTok and other platforms, where Georgescu produced a wave of viral content around issues such as his call for an end to aid for neighbouring Ukraine.
Georgescu, 62, finished as the surprise winner of Sunday’s first-round election, knocking out incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu to reach a runoff against pro-European centrist Elena Lasconi on December 8.
Social media played an outsize role in his shock surge, especially on TikTok, where he became ubiquitous.
“I have seen football TikToks with comments (saying), ‘Vote for Calin Georgescu,'” said 21-year-old voter Catalin Olaru.
– ‘Tactical win’ –
Andrei Curararu, co-founder of the Moldova-based think tank Watchdog.md, said Georgescu managed his first-round success by drawing protest votes driven by economic grievances, framing himself as a “father figure” offering quick solutions that resonated deeply.
TikTok played “a decisive role”, Curararu said: Georgescu’s campaign videos reached more than 52 million views in just four days, mobilising younger voters.
“It is clear he would not have this tactical win without the influence he gained on TikTok,” Curararu told AFP — though he added that the platform also amplifies counter-narratives, showing how it can deepen societal divisions.
Curararu said several influencers who boosted Georgescu’s campaign on TikTok had publicly admitted to being paid for their involvement.
“This directly contradicts Georgescu’s claim that he spent ‘zero’ on his campaign,” he said.
Several major accounts that supported Georgescu or had names similar to his official account have recently deleted videos, sometimes going so far as to completely empty their history, AFP Factcheck found.
The European Commission said it would hold a roundtable Friday with the Romanian authorities and TikTok.
“This is a common practice that we tend to do under the Digital Services Act because free and fair elections are at the core of our democracies,” said Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier.
A top Romanian security body, the Supreme Council of National Defence, said Thursday that TikTok had given Georgescu “preferential treatment” leading to his “massive exposure”, without mentioning the far-right candidate by name.
TikTok rejected accusations of helping Georgescu.
“It is categorically false to claim that his account was treated differently from those of other candidates,” a spokesperson told AFP.
He “was subject to exactly the same rules and restrictions” as all the other candidates, the company said.
– ‘Propaganda machine’ –
Curararu said Georgescu’s campaign recalled the use of organised Telegram groups in Moldova’s recent presidential election, where pro-European incumbent Maia Sandu was reelected after a tense vote overshadowed by allegations of Russian meddling.
“In Moldova, we saw a blatant vote-buying operation with over 138,000 accounts set up in a Russian bank, complete with territorial organisations, Telegram authentication, call centres for legal support and even ‘quality control’ calls from Moscow to ensure the operation ran smoothly,” he said.
“It was a machine built to undermine democracy. Georgescu’s campaign mirrors this playbook.”
Curararu said Georgescu’s campaign had used a series of copy-paste narratives, such as “neutrality”, “sovereignty”, and slashing support for Ukraine.
“Let’s be honest — this is nothing more than pro-Russian messaging dressed up as patriotism,” he said.
In Bucharest, some voters insisted they were not influenced by social media.
“In no way was I influenced by TikTok. I voted for Georgescu because he is a family guy,” said Carmen Ioan, 46, who works at a flower shop.
By AFP
November 28, 2024
TikTok image: — © AFP/File Antonin UTZ
Fulya OZERKAN, with Paula CABESCU in Vienna
Barely known a year ago, far-right candidate Calin Georgescu successfully dominated social network TikTok to emerge the shock winner of Romania’s first-round presidential election — an online campaign that has raised suspicions.
Georgescu, an admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has surged to more than 450,000 followers on TikTok, racking up millions of views and five million likes in the country of 19 million people.
Romanian news site G4 Media, which conducted an analysis of Georgescu’s social media use, found the far-right politician mounted a “propaganda machine” using thousands of supposed “volunteers” to spread his anti-EU, anti-NATO messages.
It found his online allies received pre-made materials on messaging app Telegram, ready for posting as comments on TikTok and other platforms, where Georgescu produced a wave of viral content around issues such as his call for an end to aid for neighbouring Ukraine.
Georgescu, 62, finished as the surprise winner of Sunday’s first-round election, knocking out incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu to reach a runoff against pro-European centrist Elena Lasconi on December 8.
Social media played an outsize role in his shock surge, especially on TikTok, where he became ubiquitous.
“I have seen football TikToks with comments (saying), ‘Vote for Calin Georgescu,'” said 21-year-old voter Catalin Olaru.
– ‘Tactical win’ –
Andrei Curararu, co-founder of the Moldova-based think tank Watchdog.md, said Georgescu managed his first-round success by drawing protest votes driven by economic grievances, framing himself as a “father figure” offering quick solutions that resonated deeply.
TikTok played “a decisive role”, Curararu said: Georgescu’s campaign videos reached more than 52 million views in just four days, mobilising younger voters.
“It is clear he would not have this tactical win without the influence he gained on TikTok,” Curararu told AFP — though he added that the platform also amplifies counter-narratives, showing how it can deepen societal divisions.
Curararu said several influencers who boosted Georgescu’s campaign on TikTok had publicly admitted to being paid for their involvement.
“This directly contradicts Georgescu’s claim that he spent ‘zero’ on his campaign,” he said.
Several major accounts that supported Georgescu or had names similar to his official account have recently deleted videos, sometimes going so far as to completely empty their history, AFP Factcheck found.
The European Commission said it would hold a roundtable Friday with the Romanian authorities and TikTok.
“This is a common practice that we tend to do under the Digital Services Act because free and fair elections are at the core of our democracies,” said Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier.
A top Romanian security body, the Supreme Council of National Defence, said Thursday that TikTok had given Georgescu “preferential treatment” leading to his “massive exposure”, without mentioning the far-right candidate by name.
TikTok rejected accusations of helping Georgescu.
“It is categorically false to claim that his account was treated differently from those of other candidates,” a spokesperson told AFP.
He “was subject to exactly the same rules and restrictions” as all the other candidates, the company said.
– ‘Propaganda machine’ –
Curararu said Georgescu’s campaign recalled the use of organised Telegram groups in Moldova’s recent presidential election, where pro-European incumbent Maia Sandu was reelected after a tense vote overshadowed by allegations of Russian meddling.
“In Moldova, we saw a blatant vote-buying operation with over 138,000 accounts set up in a Russian bank, complete with territorial organisations, Telegram authentication, call centres for legal support and even ‘quality control’ calls from Moscow to ensure the operation ran smoothly,” he said.
“It was a machine built to undermine democracy. Georgescu’s campaign mirrors this playbook.”
Curararu said Georgescu’s campaign had used a series of copy-paste narratives, such as “neutrality”, “sovereignty”, and slashing support for Ukraine.
“Let’s be honest — this is nothing more than pro-Russian messaging dressed up as patriotism,” he said.
In Bucharest, some voters insisted they were not influenced by social media.
“In no way was I influenced by TikTok. I voted for Georgescu because he is a family guy,” said Carmen Ioan, 46, who works at a flower shop.
Georgia postpones EU bid until 2028, accusing Brussels of 'blackmail'
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said Thursday that Tbilisi will be postponing EU accession talks until 2028 amid allegations by the opposition and European Parliament that his ruling party Georgian Dream had committed electoral fraud during October's legislative elections.
Issued on: 28/11/2024 -
By: NEWS WIRES
Georgian opposition supporters have protested against the results of last month's parliamentary elections. © Giorgi Arjevanide, AFP
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said Thursday that while Tbilisi remains committed to its goal of European Union membership, it will not pursue accession until 2028, accusing Brussels of "blackmail".
The announcement came hours after the European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution rejecting the results of Georgia's October 26 parliamentary elections, alleging "significant irregularities".
The resolution called for new elections to be held within a year under international supervision and for sanctions to be imposed on top Georgian officials, including Kobakhidze.
Accusing the European Parliament and "some European politicians" of "blackmail," Kobakhidze said: "We have decided not to bring up the issue of joining the European Union on the agenda until the end of 2028."
But he pledged to continue implementing the necessary reforms, asserting that "by 2028, Georgia will be more prepared than any other candidate country to open accession talks with Brussels and become a member state in 2030".
Watch moreEU enlargement put to the test: Georgia, Moldova votes shake Brussels
The former Soviet country officially gained EU candidate status in December 2023.
But Brussels has effectively frozen Georgia's accession process until Tbilisi takes concrete steps to address what it calls democratic backsliding.
Opposition lawmakers are boycotting the country's new parliament, alleging fraud in the October elections, in which the ruling Georgian Dream party held on to its majority.
Pro-Western President Salome Zurabishvili – at loggerheads with Georgian Dream – has declared the ballot "unconstitutional" and is seeking to annul the election results through the Constitutional Court.
Following Kobakhidze's statement, street protests erupted outside the parliament building and the Georgian Dream headquarters in Tbilisi, as well as in several major cities across Georgia.
In the western city of Kutaisi, police detained several demonstrators, the independent Pirveli TV station reported.
Zurabishvili held an "emergency meeting" with foreign diplomats, her office said.
"Today, the illegitimate government declared war on its own people," she said at a news conference alongside opposition leaders.
"I am the sole legitimate institution, the sole legitimate representative of this country," she added.
'Existential crisis'
On Thursday, Georgian Dream MPs voted unanimously for Kobakhidze to continue as prime minister.
But constitutional law experts have said that any decisions made by the new parliament are invalid, because it approved its own credentials in violation of a legal requirement to await a court ruling on Zurabishvili's bid to annul the election results.
One of the authors of Georgia's constitution, Vakhtang Khmaladze, said: "From the legal point of view, a head of government approved by an illegitimate parliament is equally illegitimate."
"With democratic state institutions no more, Georgia's statehood faces an existential crisis," he told AFP.
Georgian Dream, which has been accused of democratic backsliding and moving Tbilisi away from Europe and closer to Moscow, denies allegations of electoral fraud.
The party's nomination of Kobakhidze for prime minister in February had raised eyebrows in the West because of his claims that European countries and the United States were trying to drag Georgia into the Russia-Ukraine war.
Addressing lawmakers ahead of Thursday's vote, Kobakhidze presented his cabinet's new programme, entitled "With peace, dignity, prosperity, towards the European Union."
"Our goal is to achieve EU membership by 2030," he said. "It is also crucial for the EU to respect our national interests and traditional values."
'Large-scale fraud'
Kobakhidze, a 46-year-old lawyer and university professor, served as parliamentary speaker between 2016 and 2019 and as vice president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe rights watchdog from 2020 to 2022.
He is seen as a loyal ally of the powerful oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, who is Georgian Dream's honourary chairman.
Read more‘We need clarity more than ever’: Georgia’s murky elections and the West’s dilemma
Ivanishvili, Georgia's richest man, holds no official government position but is widely believed to pull the strings of power.
After the October vote, a group of Georgia's leading election monitors said they had evidence of a "complex scheme of large-scale electoral fraud" that swayed results in favour of Georgian Dream.
Tens of thousands have taken to the streets to protest the alleged fraud.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said last week that "the election will have to be investigated" and that Brussels was sending a delegation to Georgia.
Brussels had warned Tbilisi that the conduct of the election would be decisive for its prospects of joining the bloc.
The goal of EU membership is enshrined in Georgia's constitution and supported by 80 percent of the country's population, according to opinion polls.
(AFP)
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said Thursday that Tbilisi will be postponing EU accession talks until 2028 amid allegations by the opposition and European Parliament that his ruling party Georgian Dream had committed electoral fraud during October's legislative elections.
Issued on: 28/11/2024 -
By: NEWS WIRES
Georgian opposition supporters have protested against the results of last month's parliamentary elections. © Giorgi Arjevanide, AFPGeorgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said Thursday that while Tbilisi remains committed to its goal of European Union membership, it will not pursue accession until 2028, accusing Brussels of "blackmail".
The announcement came hours after the European Parliament adopted a non-binding resolution rejecting the results of Georgia's October 26 parliamentary elections, alleging "significant irregularities".
The resolution called for new elections to be held within a year under international supervision and for sanctions to be imposed on top Georgian officials, including Kobakhidze.
Accusing the European Parliament and "some European politicians" of "blackmail," Kobakhidze said: "We have decided not to bring up the issue of joining the European Union on the agenda until the end of 2028."
But he pledged to continue implementing the necessary reforms, asserting that "by 2028, Georgia will be more prepared than any other candidate country to open accession talks with Brussels and become a member state in 2030".
Watch moreEU enlargement put to the test: Georgia, Moldova votes shake Brussels
The former Soviet country officially gained EU candidate status in December 2023.
But Brussels has effectively frozen Georgia's accession process until Tbilisi takes concrete steps to address what it calls democratic backsliding.
Opposition lawmakers are boycotting the country's new parliament, alleging fraud in the October elections, in which the ruling Georgian Dream party held on to its majority.
Pro-Western President Salome Zurabishvili – at loggerheads with Georgian Dream – has declared the ballot "unconstitutional" and is seeking to annul the election results through the Constitutional Court.
Following Kobakhidze's statement, street protests erupted outside the parliament building and the Georgian Dream headquarters in Tbilisi, as well as in several major cities across Georgia.
In the western city of Kutaisi, police detained several demonstrators, the independent Pirveli TV station reported.
Zurabishvili held an "emergency meeting" with foreign diplomats, her office said.
"Today, the illegitimate government declared war on its own people," she said at a news conference alongside opposition leaders.
"I am the sole legitimate institution, the sole legitimate representative of this country," she added.
'Existential crisis'
On Thursday, Georgian Dream MPs voted unanimously for Kobakhidze to continue as prime minister.
But constitutional law experts have said that any decisions made by the new parliament are invalid, because it approved its own credentials in violation of a legal requirement to await a court ruling on Zurabishvili's bid to annul the election results.
One of the authors of Georgia's constitution, Vakhtang Khmaladze, said: "From the legal point of view, a head of government approved by an illegitimate parliament is equally illegitimate."
"With democratic state institutions no more, Georgia's statehood faces an existential crisis," he told AFP.
Georgian Dream, which has been accused of democratic backsliding and moving Tbilisi away from Europe and closer to Moscow, denies allegations of electoral fraud.
The party's nomination of Kobakhidze for prime minister in February had raised eyebrows in the West because of his claims that European countries and the United States were trying to drag Georgia into the Russia-Ukraine war.
Addressing lawmakers ahead of Thursday's vote, Kobakhidze presented his cabinet's new programme, entitled "With peace, dignity, prosperity, towards the European Union."
"Our goal is to achieve EU membership by 2030," he said. "It is also crucial for the EU to respect our national interests and traditional values."
'Large-scale fraud'
Kobakhidze, a 46-year-old lawyer and university professor, served as parliamentary speaker between 2016 and 2019 and as vice president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe rights watchdog from 2020 to 2022.
He is seen as a loyal ally of the powerful oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, who is Georgian Dream's honourary chairman.
Read more‘We need clarity more than ever’: Georgia’s murky elections and the West’s dilemma
Ivanishvili, Georgia's richest man, holds no official government position but is widely believed to pull the strings of power.
After the October vote, a group of Georgia's leading election monitors said they had evidence of a "complex scheme of large-scale electoral fraud" that swayed results in favour of Georgian Dream.
Tens of thousands have taken to the streets to protest the alleged fraud.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said last week that "the election will have to be investigated" and that Brussels was sending a delegation to Georgia.
Brussels had warned Tbilisi that the conduct of the election would be decisive for its prospects of joining the bloc.
The goal of EU membership is enshrined in Georgia's constitution and supported by 80 percent of the country's population, according to opinion polls.
(AFP)
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