Romanian officials seek election redo, citing Russian interference after right-wing candidate's surprise win

Romanian officials are calling for a redo of the recent presidential election after right-wing candidate Calin Georgescu won the first round. They allege that Russian interference influenced his unexpected success, particularly through social media. Georgescu, who will face reformist Elena Lasconi in the runoff on December 8, has been criticized for his sudden rise in TikTok engagement. A report claims this engagement was artificially boosted, leading to accusations of manipulation. The Romanian constitutional court will decide on Monday whether to annul the first round of voting. This decision could intensify political tensions in Romania, as it raises concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.