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Romanian presidential frontrunner claims he’s victim of coup d’etat Romanian presidential frontrunner claims he’s victim of coup d’etat
(about 4 hours later)
Bucharest’s Constitutional Court has cancelled the presidential election results after the surprise first round win of Calin Georgescu Bucharest’s Constitutional Court has cancelled the presidential election results after Calin Georgescu’s surprise first round win
The invalidation of Romania’s presidential election results by the country’s top court is a formalized coup d’etat, according to independent candidate Calin Georgescu, who clinched a surprise win in the first round last month. The invalidation of Romania’s presidential election results by the country’s top court is a formalized coup d’etat, according to the winner of last month's vote.
Georgescu outperformed the other candidates in the first round of the election with 22.94%, beating out liberal leftist candidate Elena Lasconi, who received 19.18%, and the country’s Social Democrat Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who finished third with 19.15%. Independent candidate Calin Georgescu topped the first round vote with 22.94%, beating out liberal leftist candidate Elena Lasconi, who received 19.18%, and the country’s Social Democrat Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who finished third with 19.15%.
On Friday, Romania’s Constitutional Court dismissed Georgescu’s victory, citing a clause in the nation’s laws that emphasizes the need to ensure the correctness and legality of the election. The judiciary body announced that the whole process would be resumed later. Ahead of a second round vote, Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled  Georgescu’s victory on Friday, citing a clause in the nation’s laws that emphasizes the need to ensure the correctness and legality of the election. The judicial body announced that the entire election would be re-run at a later date. 
“Essentially, this is a formalized coup d’etat. The rule of law is in an induced coma, and justice subordinated to political orders has practically lost its essence. It is no longer justice, it obeys the orders,” Georgescu, a known critic of Romania’s pro-NATO and pro-Ukraine policy, said on Friday, as cited by Realitatea TV. “Essentially, this is a formalized coup d’etat. The rule of law is in an induced coma, and justice subordinated to political orders has practically lost its essence. It is no longer justice, it obeys the orders,” Georgescu, a strong critic of Romania’s pro-NATO and pro-Ukraine policies, said on Friday, as cited by Realitatea TV.
The politician also stressed that the court’s decision represents more than a legal controversy, adding that “the corrupt system in Romania showed its true face by making a pact with the devil.” “The corrupt system in Romania showed its true face by making a pact with the devil,” he claimed.
Georgescu also said that the power of the people is the basis for a democratic state, and the authorities are obliged to respect the results of the national vote. He stated that the current Romanian government is afraid of losing power and facing revelations. Georgescu insisted that the power of the people is the basis for a democratic state, and that the authorities are obliged to respect the results of the national vote. The current Romanian government is afraid of losing power and facing revelations, he claimed.
Earlier this week, Western media outlets reported that declassified information from Romania’s intelligence agencies had revealed that the sudden rise of Georgescu in the first round of the election was “not a natural outcome.” According to the claims, his win emerged thanks to a coordinated social media effort, most likely orchestrated by a “state actor” meddling in the candidate’s mostly Tik-Tok-based campaign, helping to get his message out to the voters. Earlier this week, Western media outlets reported that declassified information from Romania’s intelligence agencies had alleged that the sudden rise of Georgescu in the first round of the election was “not a natural outcome.”
The annulment came amid accusations that Moscow had assisted Georgescu’s campaign, which Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has dismissed as “absolutely groundless.” She said that Romanian elections are carried out in a climate of “an unprecedented surge of anti-Russian hysteria” that is set “to influence the consciousness and will of the country’s citizens.” According to the claims, the victory emerged thanks to a coordinated social media effort, most likely orchestrated by a “state actor” meddling in the candidate’s Tik-Tok-based campaign. No evidence has been provided to back up any of the assertions. 
Washington, meanwhile, has praised the move. On Friday, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that the US reaffirms its “confidence in Romania’s democratic institutions and processes, including investigations into foreign malign influence.” The annulment came amid accusations that Moscow had assisted Georgescu’s campaign, dismissed as “absolutely groundless” by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. The Romanian elections have been carried out amid “an unprecedented surge of anti-Russian hysteria” that is set “to influence the consciousness and will of the country’s citizens.”
Washington, meanwhile, has praised the Constitutional Court's decision. On Friday, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that the US reaffirms its “confidence in Romania’s democratic institutions and processes, including investigations into foreign malign influence.”