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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| France denies claims of Romanian election interference | France denies claims of Romanian election interference |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Telegram founder Pavel Durov posted earlier that he was asked to block Romanian conservatives on his social media platform | Telegram founder Pavel Durov posted earlier that he was asked to block Romanian conservatives on his social media platform |
| The French Foreign Ministry has vehemently denied undertaking any attempts to interfere in Romania's presidential election after Telegram founder Pavel Durov claimed that he was asked to silence Romanian conservative voices on the platform ahead of Sunday's runoff. | The French Foreign Ministry has vehemently denied undertaking any attempts to interfere in Romania's presidential election after Telegram founder Pavel Durov claimed that he was asked to silence Romanian conservative voices on the platform ahead of Sunday's runoff. |
| The second round of voting in Romania is being contested by pro-EU centrist Nicusor and Euroskeptic George Simion, who have been running neck and neck in a tight race. | |
| Durov stated in a post on Telegram on the day of the vote that a “Western European government” approached his company with a request to block conservatives in Romania ahead of elections. | Durov stated in a post on Telegram on the day of the vote that a “Western European government” approached his company with a request to block conservatives in Romania ahead of elections. |
| The tech entrepreneur did not name the nation behind the request, but posted an emoji of a baguette in a thinly veiled reference to France. Hours later, the French Foreign Ministry responded with a lengthy statement on X calling “the recent accusations against France” completely “unfounded.” | |
| “France categorically rejects these allegations,” the ministry said, maintaining that the claims were “merely a diversionary maneuver from the real threats of interference targeting Romania.” | |
| Durov hit back, claiming he was personally approached over the matter by the head of France's foreign intelligence agency, Nicolas Lerner, at a Paris hotel this spring. | |
| In its statement, the French ministry also tried to point finger at Moscow, saying the first round of the Romanian presidential election initially held in December 2024 was annulled “by the competent Romanian authorities” following what it called “very real” interference from actors linked to Russia. | |
| The ministry was referring to a decision by Romania’s Constitutional Court to overturn the first round results after it was won by independent right-wing candidate Calin Georgescu, who secured 23% of the vote. The court cited electoral irregularities and suspected Russian “hybrid” influence. Moscow has denied having any involvement. | |
| Georgescu was later barred from running again by the Central Electoral Bureau, which cited his alleged “anti-democratic” and “extremist” positions and procedural violations. Simion publicly supported Georgescu and also accused France of “putting a lot of money and pressure” into subverting the vote in Romania. | Georgescu was later barred from running again by the Central Electoral Bureau, which cited his alleged “anti-democratic” and “extremist” positions and procedural violations. Simion publicly supported Georgescu and also accused France of “putting a lot of money and pressure” into subverting the vote in Romania. |