Brussels does not interfere in member states’ electoral processes, the European Commission has reportedly said
The European Union has declined to say anything about Romania’s decision to bar independent candidate Calin Georgescu from participating in a rerun of the nation’s presidential election, according to media reports. Georgescu’s first round victory was annulled due to claims of campaign irregularities and accusations of ties to Moscow.
Georgescu, a staunch critic of the EU and NATO and an opponent of supporting Ukraine, won with a plurality of 23% of the vote in November, but Romania’s Constitutional Court swiftly cancelled the result. On Sunday, the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) barred him from taking part in the new election in May.
On Monday, the European Commission stated that Brussels “does not comment” on electoral processes in member states, according to multiple media reports. When asked at a press briefing whether the EU executive body trusts the Romanian electoral commission to take such a drastic step, commission representative Markus Lammert said that Brussels “does not interfere in any way in national elections,” which are a responsibility of the national authorities and people.
The cancellation of the first round of the presidential vote came amid allegations of electoral violations and claims that Russia had run a coordinated online campaign to promote Georgescu.
An investigation earlier this year revealed that the alleged campaign irregularities were likely caused by the actions of a consulting firm associated with the pro-Western National Liberal Party (PNL). The firm intended to undermine another candidate but inadvertently boosted Georgescu’s profile instead.
Russia has denied involvement in Romania’s electoral process, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakhharova calling the speculations baseless. “Russia has no habit of meddling in the affairs of others,” she told reporters last week.
In late February, Georgescu was indicted for allegedly inciting actions against the constitutional order and promoting a fascist, racist or xenophobic ideology. He has denied all the charges, insisting they are politically motivated.
