Romania is gearing up for a contentious election re-run this weekend, following the mysterious annulment of last December's presidential vote, which has prompted widespread protests and political instability. The situation surrounding the election revolves around far-right candidate Calin Georgescu, whose surprising first-round victory was revoked due to allegations of Russian meddling, suspicious social media activity, and undisclosed payments to influencers.
Georgescu has been barred from participating in the upcoming elections and has recently been detained under charges relating to attempts to disrupt the constitutional order. He has denied any wrongdoing, accusing authorities of fabricating evidence to manipulate the election results.
As the political landscape shifts, George Simion of the far-right AUR party emerges as the frontrunner for the upcoming vote, with Crin Antonescu from the National Liberal Party and independent candidate Nicușor Dan trailing behind in the polls. At the center of this electoral turmoil are various TikTok influencers, who are under scrutiny for allegedly boosting Georgescu’s popularity through social media campaigns.
Georgescu’s electoral rise was puzzling to many, as he had been relatively unknown prior to the elections, polling at just 3-5%. Ignoring traditional campaigning, he instead took to TikTok, creating engaging content – from showcasing traditional Romanian horse riding to practicing judo – ultimately attracting almost 23% of the vote.
A report from the Expert Forum think tank indicates that Georgescu's growth on TikTok was not natural but artificially engineered, aligning with claims from authorities that social media manipulation played a significant role in the election. Romanian officials allege that Georgescu's campaign network included paid influencers, inauthentic accounts boosting his visibility, and a so-called "King of TikTok" orchestrating these efforts.
Despite these claims, tangible evidence of direct Russian involvement remains elusive, leaving many citizens puzzled and frustrated. The Romanian Foreign Intelligence Services have yet to confirm the existence of any concrete evidence regarding foreign interference.
Shortly before the elections, videos tagged with #stabilityandintegrity swarmed TikTok, featuring influencers voicing their desire for a stable and patriotic leader without mentioning Georgescu explicitly. Paid through the marketing service FameUp, most influencers were unaware of who financed the campaign. Some social media users reported an influx of comments backing Georgescu after posting these videos.
TikTok acknowledged the removal of numerous fake accounts aimed at amplifying artificial engagement around the elections. Their spokesperson emphasized ongoing collaboration with local and EU authorities to promote reliable electoral narratives.
In January, it was revealed that the #stabilityandintegrity campaign was funded by the center-right PNL party, contradicting previous assumptions about its independent nature. The PNL later claimed their initiative was co-opted to favor Georgescu.
In a dramatic turn, the "King of TikTok," Bogdan Peschir, was arrested on charges of ‘corrupting voters’ through financial incentives to influencers. Reports suggest he paid out over $900,000 to induce support for specific candidates using TikTok gifts.
With investigations unfolding both nationally and at the European Commission level, many Romanians remain skeptical about the lack of conclusive evidence regarding Russian influence. Media sources underscore the complexities involved in resolving such a multilayered political scandal, suggesting it could take years to unveil the full story behind the electoral chaos.
