Romania's cancelled presidential election and why it matters

A court ruling follows intelligence allegations of Russian interference promoting a far-right candidate.

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The court's decision to annul the first round came after a far-right independent candidate, Calin Georgescu, came out of almost nowhere to lead the first round two weeks ago amid allegations of Russian interference.

Georgescu has condemned the ruling as a coup and Romania may have to wait months to vote again.

Romania is a key Nato member on its eastern flank and shares a long border with Ukraine.

It is not the first Eastern European state to fend off Russia's hybrid war, and the constitutional court has ruled that intelligence revelations of Russian meddling are sufficiently serious to put the presidential vote on hold.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2yl2zxrq1o

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