Romania Initiates Election Recount Amid Claims of TikTok Favoritism

Concerns regarding electoral integrity arise as Romania's top court mandates a vote recount after claims of preferential treatment for candidate Calin Georgescu on TikTok. Amid protests and political tensions, calls for fair electoral practices continue.

Romania's top court has mandated a comprehensive recount of votes following allegations that the social media platform TikTok exhibited biases favoring surprise frontrunner Calin Georgescu during the recent presidential elections. Georgescu, an independent radical who primarily utilized TikTok for campaigning, garnered 23% of the popular vote, outperforming the second-place contestant, Elena Lasconi, who received 19%, and Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, of the Social Democrats, who landed in third position.

The Constitutional Court has also dismissed claims from two unsuccessful candidates who accused Georgescu of engaging in illegal campaign financing. The Central Election Bureau now faces the responsibility of determining the logistics of the recount, such as personnel involved and the timeline for completion. Notably, a full recount has not been executed in Romania since the fall of communism.

If the recount progresses as planned, Georgescu is set to compete against Lasconi in a run-off scheduled for December 8. Lasconi emphasizes the importance of integrity in the electoral process, stating, "Extremism is fought by voting, not backstage games." She urges a fair handling of the recount to ensure the law applies equally to all candidates.

Compounding the situation, TikTok faces scrutiny from Romania's Supreme Council of National Defence, which accuses the platform of failing to observe electoral regulations. Outgoing President Klaus Iohannis highlighted that TikTok did not classify Georgescu as a political candidate. In response to these accusations, TikTok has categorically denied any wrongdoing, affirming that its treatment of Georgescu's account was uniform with that of other candidates.

Georgescu, in his defense, labels critiques regarding his campaign's use of TikTok as unreasonable. Expressing a strong connection with the electorate, he stated, "The budget of this campaign was zero... we had millions of people behind [us]." He articulated his belief that state powers are attempting to undermine the people's choice in favor of certain political agendas.

Following these developments, protests have erupted against Georgescu in major cities including Bucharest, as viewers in Romania and its diaspora react with mixed emotions—ranging from elation to confusion. Meanwhile, Romania's telecommunications regulator has called for TikTok's suspension pending an investigation, while the National Audiovisual Council seeks a probe from the European Commission regarding the platform's usage during the elections.

This turbulent political landscape unfolds as Romania prepares for parliamentary elections this weekend, with far-right parties aiming for increased traction arising from the aftermath of the presidential election. As fragmentation increases within the governing coalition, various factions grapple with their implications for the country’s political future.