On the eastern fringe of Europe, an existential struggle is underway over the true meaning of democracy. Donald Trump’s government is here to help.
Romania, a country of 19 million people bordering Ukraine, is now at the center of a transatlantic dispute between allies of the U.S. president and European centrists who fear a crucial election is being manipulated by Moscow.
At issue is the constitutional crisis that blew up in November when ultranationalist, pro-Russian candidate Călin Georgescu came from nowhere to win the first round of the presidential race.
Amid widespread shock in Bucharest and beyond, authorities began looking into Georgescu’s campaign. They uncovered alleged financial irregularities and links to unsavory characters. There were also reports Georgescu benefited from foreign interference, including a massive TikTok influence operation. The finger of suspicion pointed to Russia.
In December, days before a runoff between Georgescu — who has criticized NATO and expressed his admiration for Vladimir Putin — and a pro-EU candidate, Romania’s constitutional court ruled the entire election was compromised and must be canceled.
A rerun is scheduled for May as investigators continue their work. But on Sunday, election authorities banned Georgescu from taking part. He has a few days to appeal the decision but he seems unlikely to succeed in that bid.
To cynics and critics of the ruling — including Trump’s powerful billionaire adviser Elon Musk — the decision is yet more evidence of a European establishment stitch-up, as the old parties join forces with the deep state.
One problem for Romanian democracy is that many inside the country as well as neutral observers see some truth in this complaint. Disillusionment with the political establishment is widespread. Georgescu offered a radical change.
On the other side of the argument are those in the pro-EU center ground in Bucharest, Brussels and elsewhere, who fear that a classic Russian influence operation has meddled in yet another country’s election.
On Sunday, the backlash was immediate. Georgescu supporters clashed with police outside the electoral bureau and lit up social media with their outrage.
Tyranny!
Georgescu himself tapped into the conspiracy narrative, choosing to internationalize his difficulties.
“A direct blow to the heart of world democracy,” he wrote on Musk’s social media platform X. “If democracy in Romania falls, the entire democratic world will fall! This is just the beginning. It’s that simple! Europe is now a dictatorship, Romania is under tyranny!”
Everything about Georgescu’s story makes him an appealing cause for Trump’s outspoken deputies to take up. Standing as an independent, he opposed LGBTQ+ rights, has criticized the EU and support for Ukraine, and expressed admiration for Putin, Romania’s past fascist leadership and Dracula. The 62-year-old’s TikTok videos included scenes showing him working out on a running track and wearing traditional Romanian garb while riding a horse.
Both Musk and U.S. Vice President JD Vance had already slammed last year’s election annulment as evidence that European politics is corrupted by elites who cannot accept the result.
On Sunday, Musk retweeted posts on X denouncing the election bureau’s decision to ban Georgescu, and said it was “crazy.” Such commentary could further inflame the dissent in Romania.
“If these statements come again from Vance and Musk or whoever, people will feel that their grievances are further confirmed by the Trump administration,” said Oana Popescu-Zamfir, director of GlobalFocus Center, a foreign policy and security think tank in Bucharest. “This is not just Russian interference, it’s double interference from Russia and from Washington.”
NATO base
The new alignment between the Kremlin and the White House is making heads spin in Bucharest. During the Cold War, Romania was one of the most pro-Western European countries under communist rule, maintaining links with the U.S. while remaining wary of Moscow.
Most of the country’s politicians and many voters regard Romania’s NATO membership and pro-Western outlook as non-negotiable. Romania is home to a U.S. missile shield site and a major NATO base that is being transformed into the alliance’s largest in Europe. It has also played an important role as a transport hub for Ukraine.
But in the Trump era, everything has changed — and Romania’s prevailing pro-EU, pro-American political culture is at risk. These days, facing West toward Washington no longer automatically means turning your back on Moscow.
“The whole thing ultimately benefits the Kremlin,” said Popescu-Zamfir. “There have been so many revelations over the past few days between Georgescu and his constituency and supporters and the Kremlin. Normally in a country like Romania with a lot of anti-Russian feeling you would expect people to be put off by this. But I think it’s the opposite that’s happening.”
With the Americans appearing happy to work with Moscow, many Romanians will feel they cannot avoid Russian influence, she said.
“I think that’s the ultimate goal for the Kremlin: chaos and confusion in the short run — and they have already achieved that — and in the longer run, having a firm footprint, and a more visible presence,” said Popescu-Zamfir. “This is not meant to make them liked, but to make them feared. I think that’s about to be achieved as well.”
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