Romania is grappling with allegations of a sophisticated and state-sponsored election interference campaign that has raised alarms just days before the second round of the country’s presidential elections. Authorities have revealed that a series of cyber-attacks and a highly organized social media campaign targeted the election, with a significant focus on TikTok, a platform widely used by younger voters. The country’s domestic intelligence service has linked the effort to external actors, suggesting a coordinated attempt to sway the election in favor of a controversial far-right candidate, Calin Georgescu.
Georgescu, a former United Nations official with strong anti-NATO views, has surged unexpectedly in popularity during the election, with his influence growing rapidly following the first round of voting two weeks ago. The 63-year-old, who has publicly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, is an ardent critic of Romania’s European Union and NATO affiliations. Despite his previously low profile, Georgescu’s rise has been fueled by a shadowy and sophisticated social media campaign, allegedly orchestrated by foreign entities seeking to promote his candidacy.
Romanian intelligence services claim that the campaign was not only “highly organized” but also utilized influencers across social media to push a uniform, pro-Georgescu narrative. The campaign operated from “external locations” to circumvent local regulatory controls, enabling it to bypass Romania’s electoral rules. Paid promotions for Georgescu were found on TikTok, a platform that is particularly popular among younger voters. These ads, however, did not clearly mark themselves as political campaigning, violating both the platform’s terms of service and Romanian electoral law.
The intelligence documents reveal that one TikTok account spent a staggering $381,000 on promoting Georgescu in just one month, from October 24 to November 24. The funds were used to pay influencers who posted content promoting the far-right candidate, bypassing the election laws meant to control such advertising. Georgescu, however, has repeatedly denied any involvement in such activities, claiming that he spent “zero” on campaigning and was unaware of the influencers or the financial transactions behind the campaign.
The revelations of foreign influence and cyber-attacks come at a time of heightened tension in Romania’s political landscape. With the second round of the presidential election scheduled for Sunday, Romanian authorities are investigating the full extent of the interference. Intelligence reports indicate that cyber-criminals, possibly originating from Russia, were responsible for over 85,000 attempted hacks aimed at electoral websites and data. These sophisticated attacks were carried out with techniques that are characteristic of state-sponsored actors, further stoking fears that external forces are trying to manipulate Romania’s political future.
The investigation is still ongoing, and while Russia has denied any involvement in the election interference, the country’s relationship with Romania has been increasingly tense. Romania is seen as a critical player in Eastern Europe, particularly due to its strategic position within NATO, making it a target for what Moscow refers to as “aggressive hybrid actions” against countries it views as adversaries. The documents released by Romania’s outgoing president, Klaus Iohannis, underscore the gravity of the situation, with evidence pointing to an organized effort to influence the election in Georgescu’s favor.
In response to the escalating political crisis, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who finished third in the presidential race, has voiced his full support for Elena Lasconi, a reformist candidate running against Georgescu in the second round. Ciolacu’s endorsement highlights Romania’s division over its European future. A pro-EU protest is scheduled for Thursday evening, as citizens express concern over foreign interference in their democratic process.
Georgescu, for his part, has attempted to deflect accusations, warning against possible unrest and invoking comparisons to the 2014 Maidan protests in Ukraine, which saw the ousting of a pro-Russian president. His call for “social tranquillity” has done little to quell growing discontent among voters who are alarmed by the revelations of foreign meddling in the election.
With the election on the horizon and investigations still ongoing, the outcome of Romania’s presidential race hangs in the balance. What remains clear is that this election has become a battleground not just for domestic political power, but for the influence of foreign actors seeking to reshape Romania’s place in Europe. The coming days will be crucial in determining the country’s political future and its response to the growing threat of hybrid warfare in the digital age.
