The party -free mayor of Bucharest Nicusor Dan, who had moved to the presidential race as an underdog, is the new head of state of Romania and his right -wing populist opponent George Simion has already granted his defeat. Although there is now relief in Kiev and countless EU capitals, there are again accusations against Russia to have influenced the elections with a disinformation campaign. But France is also confronted with accusations of manipulation.
Even during the Urn gang, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that there were “indications of interference by Russia”. “During the current elections in Romania we see typical characteristics of Russian interference again,” said the spokesperson for the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Online Service X before the polling stations were closed. “A viral campaign with false information about Telegram and other social media platforms aims to influence the election process,” he added.
The first round was already under special signs. Within Romania – after November 2024 – a presidential election was carried out in Romania. A repetition was necessary after the first round of the Constitution was lifted by Russia due to illegal elections. At that time, Calin Georgescu was surprising in the first place-a candidate who apparently has contacts with Putin-Close actors.
According to a report from the Romanian secret service SRI, Georescus was influenced by Russian disinformation and an orchestrated Tikok campaign. Georgescu was excluded from the elections. He is investigated by criminal law.
Expert: “If by magic in the Tikk-Top Teen”
There are no concrete proof of influence with the help of disinformation campaigns on social media. The Russian government also denies all attempts to manipulation. Nevertheless, there are some suspicions, as cyber defense expert is granted granigly in an interview with Krone.at. Last November, the previously unknown right -wing candidate Georgescu “Like to suddenly found on Tiktok in the top 10, he could not explain how his election campaign was financed.
The repeated presidential elections, which has now been defeated, was also characterized by fake news about the pro-European candidate then. “It was reported about an alleged autism disease, the non-baptized children and problems with the Matura certificate,” said Granig, who intensively observed the election evening. Romania sees the head of the Institute of Austria Romania as a “good example of foreign attempts to influence”. After all, a large part of the population would learn intensively about social media. Classic media, on the other hand, are no longer so relevant. Similar mass attempts to influence was also a nationalist side before the land access to the EU, granigly remembers.
Romania continues the pro-European path
The fact that all attempts ultimately did not fertilize was observed with great lighting in the EU and also in many ranks abroad. It was celebrated in the Romanian embassy in Vienna, granted, who lived in the Southeastern European country for years. Dance election victory means that the clear pro-European path of the country will continue.
“Together with Prime Minister Catalin Predoiu, the liberal Romanian politicians are guaranteed for a positive momentum that is so urgently needed in southeastern Europe. In many areas we can learn something from Romania: combating corruption, structure of the IT industry, growth of the economy, dealing with ethnic Minorities.
Granig does not think much about the accusations that have also appeared, according to whatever the French government tried to influence the presidential elections in Romania. Pavel Durov, founder of the Telegram Messenger Service, had stated that France had asked the platform “Conservative voices in Romania to be silent before today’s presidential elections”. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the allegations and explained that the allegations were “steering tactics in the light of real attempts to intervene against Romania”.
“Accusations must be closely investigated”
Granig comes in the same horn and emphasizes that Telegram often does not respond if you report suspicious content such as fake news or criminal things. “So I wonder how you could reach Durov with such an investigation?” Is the expert extremely skeptical. But of course these allegations and also those of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs must now be closely investigated.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
