Romanian Presidential Election Results Challenged Amidst Allegations of Propaganda and Vote-Buying

Simion Challenges Presidential Election Results in Romania On May 21, 2025, George Simion, leader of the AUR party, filed an appeal with Romania's Constitutional Court to annul the recent presidential election. Simion alleges that the election was marred by significant irregularities, including a large-scale international propaganda campaign designed to discredit him and his party. He claims that this campaign, which he alleges involved Moldovan President Maia Sandu, falsely portrayed him as pro-Russian and denigrated his candidacy. "They spent 100 million euros in Moldova alone to buy votes and spread false narratives about me," Simion stated in his appeal. The document details specific instances of alleged negative media coverage and online manipulation, providing screenshots and links to support his claims. The appeal also points to alleged irregularities in the voting process itself, including claims of vote-buying and voter manipulation. The Constitutional Court is now tasked with reviewing Simion's evidence and determining whether to order a re-election. This case has the potential to significantly impact the Romanian political landscape and raise questions about the integrity of the electoral process.