Romania's top court rejects far-right candidate's attempt to annul election
Romania's top court has unanimously rejected an application by the defeated far-right candidate in Sunday's presidential election rerun, George Simion, to annul the vote on the grounds of foreign interference.
'Following deliberations, the constitutional court unanimously rejected the request … as unfounded,' the court said in statement on Thursday, adding that its decision was final and it would publish its full reasoning at a later date.
Simion, an EU-critical, Trump-admiring former ultranationalist agitator who opposes military aid to Ukraine, filed the request on Tuesday, two days after conceding defeat to the centrist mayor of Bucharest, Nicușor Dan, who won by 53.6% to 46.4%.
'The constitutional court has continued the coup! All we can do is fight! I call you to join me, today and in the coming weeks,' he posted on social media after the court's announcement.
Simion had argued the count was correct but alleged prior interference by France and Moldova in 'an orchestrated effort to manipulate institutions, direct media narratives and impose a result that does not reflect the sovereign will of the Romanian people'.
The election was rerun after the first attempt, last November, was annulled amid evidence of campaign financing violations and a 'massive' Russian interference campaign, drawing criticism from conservatives, including the US administration.
The court said Sunday's results would be formally validated, with Dan in attendance, later on Thursday. Romania's permanent electoral authority confirmed on Wednesday the election had taken place 'in a climate of integrity, fairness and transparency'.
The authority added in a statement: 'False information released in the public space, spread irresponsibly and in the absence of any evidence, only has the objective of undermining citizens' trust in state institutions.'
The winner of the annulled original vote, the far-right firebrand Călin Georgescu, was barred from standing in the rerun and is under investigation for illegal use of digital technology, misreporting campaign spending, and promoting fascist groups. He denies any wrongdoing.
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Dan faces an uphill task to replace the current caretaker government with a new ruling coalition and reduce Romania's huge budget deficit, the EU's highest. He said on Thursday the country would remain firmly in the European mainstream.
'Romania will maintain its pro-western direction, meaning participation in Nato, presence in the EU, and strategic partnership with the US,' he said. 'But to be active in these structures, you need credibility which is why we must reduce our deficit.'
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