Romanian elections: TikTokers and an election scandal - BBC

The BBC speaks to Romanian influencers, implicated in the unprecedented cancellation of an EU election

Image source, Cristina HorezImage caption, Cristina Horez, an influencer from the Northern city of Iasi

Romanians are returning to the polls this weekend, following the unprecedented cancellation of presidential elections last December which fuelled protests and nationwide turmoil.

Far-right candidate Calin Georgescu's shock victory in the first round of elections was annulled amid accusations of Russian interference, suspicious TikTok accounts and secret payments to online influencers. Moscow denied interfering in the election.

Georgescu is now banned from running, and was detained, facing a criminal investigation including attempting to overthrow constitutional order. He has denied the charges and accused the authorities of "inventing evidence to justify stealing the election".

The leader of Romania's far-right AUR party, George Simion, has been polling as the frontrunner in the first round of the election re-run on Sunday.

https://www.bbc.com/articles/cqx41x3gn5zo

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