Latest news with #constitutionalCourt
Free Malaysia Today
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Romanian top court rejects challenge to annul presidential election
President-elect Nicusor Dan will soon face the daunting task of nominating a prime minister in a fragmented parliament. (AP pic) BUCHAREST : Romania's constitutional court said today it had unanimously rejected a request to cancel the May 18 presidential election that was won by centrist Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan. Romania's defeated hard-right contender George Simion, who emerged as the frontrunner in the first round of voting on May 4, had filed the request alleging interference by France and Moldova. Election authorities and independent observers have said the election was well-organised. The constitutional court, which said Simion's challenge was unfounded, will officially validate the election result today, with Dan in attendance. The court cancelled Romania's initial presidential election six months ago on suspicion of Russian interference – denied by Moscow – in favour of far-right candidate Calin Georgescu. He was barred from taking part in the re-run. The ensuing institutional crisis – including the fall of the Social Democrat-led government – stalled efforts to reduce Romania's budget deficit, the largest in the EU, and unnerved financial markets. Romania's European allies and investors welcomed Dan's presidential election victory over the eurosceptic Simion, who has called the cancellation of the initial ballot late last year a 'coup' and took over the baton from Georgescu. 'The constitutional court has continued the coup d'etat by rejecting our appeal,' Simion said on social media today, reacting to the verdict. 'Only thing left for us is to keep fighting.' Accusation Simion had earlier conceded defeat, after initially saying he won. He later clung onto Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messaging app, who accused the head of France's foreign intelligence agency during Sunday's ballot of asking him to ban Romanian conservative voices ahead of the elections. AdChoices ADVERTISING France's DGSE foreign spy agency denied the accusation. President-elect Dan will be sworn in next Monday and will then face the daunting task of nominating a prime minister able to negotiate a ruling majority in a fragmented parliament. 'It is certain that Romania will keep its pro-Western direction,' Dan told a security conference today. 'Romania has not been sufficiently active in any of these structures (EU, Nato) but to be active you must have credibility. Romania must strengthen itself and be more active.' Simion had wanted to end military aid for neighbouring Ukraine in its war with Russia.
The Guardian
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
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. Sign up to Headlines Europe A digest of the morning's main headlines from the Europe edition emailed direct to you every week day after newsletter promotion 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.'
