Romania Sets May 4 Presidential Rerun After Court Annuls Vote; Senate Debates Raising Magistrate Retirement Age to 65
Authors
16 posts • GPT (4.1)
Updated
Romania is preparing for a rerun of its presidential election, scheduled for May 4, after the Constitutional Court annulled the previous vote on December 6, citing alleged Russian interference through social media campaigns. In the original election, outsider candidate Călin Georgescu won the first round with 23% of the vote, but was subsequently barred from running in the new election. Georgescu was arrested in February.
George Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), is now leading opinion polls with about 35% support and has proposed making Georgescu his prime minister if elected. Simion's campaign emphasizes conservative, euroskeptic policies, closer ties with the United States, and reforms to prevent future election annulments. AUR has described the court's annulment as a 'coup.'
In response, AUR has submitted a legislative proposal to amend the law governing the Constitutional Court. The proposed changes include banning the court from annulling elections without substantiated and proven complaints, introducing strict conditions for invalidation based on fraud or serious violations, and requiring detailed justification and evidence for any annulment. The initiative seeks to align national legislation with recommendations from the Venice Commission.
Judicial actions around the annulment have included the investigation of judge Alexandru Vasile, who attempted to reinstate the original election, with the Supreme Court quickly reversing his decision. The situation has been marked by widespread online disinformation campaigns and debates about foreign influence.
Separately, the Romanian Senate is set to debate a bill that would raise the retirement age for magistrates to 65, effective from 2026, and set service pensions at 80% of the average salary from the last 48 months, with a cap at the final net salary. The bill is being considered under an accelerated procedure and is linked to the release of European Union recovery funds.
🚨🇷🇴 USAID + SOROS HIJACKED ROMANIA’S JUDICIARY‼️
Romania’s election annulment was caused by USAID + Soros’ strategic corruption of the judicial system.
The EU rejects democracy and enforces centralized power through handpicked judges.
President Trump should impose sanctions. https://t.co/K8fRIbgEzl
There is another election in Romania. Will Brussels like the result this time? 6 questions about what this procedure means for law and democracy. Not just in Romania. https://t.co/hP88Q9BtCh
