Did Russia fix Romania's election?

Romania’s recent presidential election has sent shockwaves through Europe. A largely unknown far-right candidate, Călin Georgescu, advanced to the 8 December runoff in an unprecedented result. Known for his pro-Russian, anti-NATO views, Georgescu’s rise has sparked allegations of electoral manipulation, particularly through TikTok, with attention focused on disinformation and foreign influence. The European Parliament has called for TikTok’s CEO to address these claims, while Romania’s Supreme Court ordered a recount. Amidst protests, questions about Georgescu’s campaign funding, and potential national security risks, concerns grow about Romania’s future alignment with NATO and the EU if he wins.

This election highlights the growing threats of hybrid warfare, where disinformation and electoral manipulation destabilise democracies. Against a backdrop of accusations of Russian interference in global elections, from Brexit to the U.S., fears mount that Moscow may have weaponised Romania’s democratic processes. Georgescu’s potential presidency raises the alarming prospect of shifting Romania closer to Russian interests, challenging Western unity, and strengthening a bloc of pro-Moscow nations in Eastern Europe. Regardless of the runoff’s outcome, the election underscores the power of social media in shaping political outcomes and the mainstreaming of far-right ideologies, raising pressing questions about the resilience of liberal democracy and European security.

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*VIDEO CHAPTERS*
00:00 Introduction and Titles
01:54 Romania: Location, Population and Political System
03:04 A Brief History of Romania
04:43 Romania after the Fall of Communism
05:38 Romania joins NATO and the European Union
06:38 Romanian under President Klaus Iohannis
08:15 The First Round of Presidential Elections
09:59 The Fallout from the Romanian Vote
11:19 Romania Goes to a Run-Off Vote
12:59 Russia and the Growing Danger of Far-Right Populism

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#Romania #HybridWarfare #Russia

[JamesKerLindsay]

The results of the first round of presidential elections sent shockwaves through Romania. But was Russia really behind it, as many suspect? Or is this another example of the far-right using social media to amplify its message? And what do you think will be the broader significance of all this? Let me know in the comments below.

[IoanMihali]

I feel obliged to point out a huge mistake in the video:
In 2004 Iliescu was not forced out of office by Basescu. He didn’t even run anymore because he ended his second full term and the constitution allows only 2 mandates.
Basescu won the elections in 2004 against Adrian Năstase, the PSD’s candidate, the serving prime-minister between 2000-2004 during Iliescu’s second full mandate as president.

[aix]

Very surface level analysis that ignores a lot of information an d avoids asking what led to this.

[Ovidiu]

Romania si not a supporter of Russia, neither anti EU or NATO, and will never be.

[CiobotaruElena]

You forgot to say that Romania allied with Nazi Germany is because USSR anexed Basarabia and North Bucovina

[BT_Secret]

One mistake you have in your video, Romania was placed under comunist Russia by Winston Churchill, he chosed to save Greece by sacrifcing Romania, when they shared europe after world war

[mimisor]

Professor, your brief overview of Romania's history was so skimpy that it missed important elements that lay at the foundation of profound anti-Russian sentiments in the Romanian society, thus distorting your analysis. For those of your viewers with keen eyes, the countour of the Principality of Moldova before and after the union in 1859 with Wallachia will show the loss of nearly half of its Eastern part, taken by the Russian empire in 1812 (most of it is the current Republic of Moldova). Maybe mentioning the 12 occupations by Russian troops of the territories of the Principalities and of Romania, the betrayal in WW1 and never returning of 90 tons of gold send there for protection, the fact that Romania only entered into an alliance with Nazi Germany after the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact and the rapt of Eastern Moldova, northern Bucovina by the Soviets, Northern Transylvania by Hungary and Southern Dobrogea by Bulgaria, then having to accept Germany's guarantees for what remained of our country and become their allies and give them access to our oil fields. So no, we don't need Russians as friends because we know them and do not trust them! All those online saying they want to be friends with Putin's Russia are mostly trolls or bots, and a few useful idiots in between.

[lovetohate]

Ah yes, It's only "democracy" when it goes our way

[Absint]

Did Russia fix the Elections in Italy, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland?

[_Silviu]

One question: Did Russia also fixed the elections in USA, or are you excluding the ideea that people simply voted for these people? Is that the case? If people chose in one direction is democratic, if not it's russian hand.

[NicolaMihaita]

All this, then Goergia.. now South Korea...Israel... the world went bozo in the last few years

[MDHUSKY]

This is a common thing in the West that some election results are interpreted through the influence of foreign governments as a decisive factor, while ignoring the real situation on the ground. As we saw in the 2016 American elections, when the Democrats claimed that the elections were rigged by the Russians and then 8 years later faced the reality, which is that many voters were not satisfied with their policies. So even today in Romania, people are primarily dissatisfied with the economic situation as a result of Covid and the war in Ukraine, and they have never approved of such a confrontation with Russia, because like other Eastern Bloc countries, they have seen both sides of the coin, i.e. both communism and democracy, and traditionally do not have much trust in the government and the media.

[kachain]

Why is everyone not pro eu considered Russian bot or pro Russian...cant someone just be pro Romanian!!!😂😂😂

[redskytitan]

Terrible analysis that completely fails to recognize the Trump phenomenon and the shift to the right in many parts of Europe. NATO is no longer a functioning alliance heavily dependent on the US, who under Trump will move to bilateral relations rather than broad alliances. EU’s out of control bureaucracy needs to be tempered by strong leaders in the member states who no longer wish to be bullied. The people have spoken, this is how democracy works - you must respect the will of the people whether you like the outcome or not.

[mihaifloares]

It's simple, Romanian Trump vs Romanian Kamala.

[RaduBadita]

As a Romanian I’m asking you kindly Professor to include an important detail whenever you tell the short version of our history from now on: after World War II broke out Romania quickly claimed neutrality initially, but being faced with a fate similar to Poland’s (USSR annexed Bessarabia in East and nazies “gifting” Hungary with a chunk of Transilvania in west) it quickly chosen to join the Axis powers in order to survive as a state - USSR was feared as a mortal enemy of our state.
I’m asking you to include this important piece of information for the Western public opinion and also because USSR robbed us blind after the end of the war (‘cause this is what you do to a new ally, right?..) motivating that as “taking reparations for the war”. Only that said reparations had been “collected” several times in value than agreed by peace treaties.

[allydea]

9:50 "suspicions of _a coordinated effort to manipulate public opinion"_ ... Sorry, did you just give the definition of an electoral campaign?

[SXsoft]

As a Romanian I feel like not even Russia would make the shit up that is happening in the public here in The goverment did it with it's own hands. I don't think that even Russia would want to deal with romania

[aleksandarilic]

Let me just understand something professor, if I am a politician or political organization in some democratic country. I receive funding from USAID, the Norwegian government, the Rockefeller Foundation, or the Open Society Foundation, then I am not considered a foreign lobbyist and everybody should treat me as a fer democratic candidate in political arena completely independent from my financiers, and if someone tries to question my funding sources and label me as a foreign lobbyist, complete EU will sanction that person or government. But if I on the other hand get funding or any sort of support from Russia and Russian government-affiliated institutions (or practically any institution outside of western sphere of influence) all of a sudden the same pro-democratic thinkers that were defending my US/EU-backed funding will jump to explain to everybody that I am under the influence of Russia (or that other malign organization/government). Isn't that just pure hypocrisy? If we are honest, in a real democratic, independent society no external funding to political organizations should be allowed, but I just cannot grasp why you and other prominent political thinkers never attack the same when it is happening from Western governments and organizations? Do you believe that influencing countries' elections is OK if it is performed by Western governments, security services, and/or affiliated organizations, or is it something that should be outlawed for all sides equaly?

[nicolasgingras]

It's always fixed when the west doesn't like the results 😅😅