Romanian hard-right leader George Simion announced Tuesday he will contest his defeat in last Sunday’s presidential election, alleging foreign inference.
Centrist Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan won the second round of the vote, which was rerun after a first election last November was annulled over concerns about Russian meddling.
He referenced claims by Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messaging app, that the French government asked the platform to “silence” conservative voices ahead of the presidential vote.
“Neither France nor Moldova nor anyone else has the right to interfere in the elections of another state,” Simion wrote in a post.
Simion said he had low expectations that Romania’s top court would annul the elections after his complaint, and called on Romanians to lodge complaints too.
On Tuesday, Romania’s hard-right leader George Simion declared that he would challenge his loss in the presidential election that was held last Sunday, citing foreign interference.
After a first election last November was canceled due to suspicions of Russian interference, a second round of voting was held, and the winner was Centrist Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan.
Using “external influence and institutional compromise,” Simion declared, “We will contest the election at the Constitutional Court for the same reasons they annulled the elections in December.”. “.”.
In an attempt to control institutions, shape media narratives, and ultimately impose a result that does not represent the sovereign will of the Romanian people, France, Moldova, and other actors have now unquestionably meddled. “”.
According to the ultranationalist, “dead people” cast ballots in Sunday’s second round, and €100 million was spent in Moldova to buy votes.
According to Pavel Durov, the creator of the Telegram messaging app, the French government requested that the app “silence” conservative voices prior to the presidential election.
Before the results are confirmed, Simion urged the court to ask Durov to testify and “share firsthand what he knows about the disinformation and digital operations that interfered with Romania’s elections.”.
In a post, Simion stated that “no one, including France and Moldova, has the right to meddle in another state’s elections.”.
Simion encouraged Romanians to file complaints as well, saying he had little hope that the country’s highest court would declare the elections void in response to his complaint.
Reporting was done by Carmen Paun and Elena Giordano.
