BUCHAREST (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of Romanians angry over the cancellation of a presidential election marched through Bucharest on Sunday to demand the election and the resignation of outgoing centrist President Klaus Iohannis.
In a move that polarized voters, Romania's Supreme Court annulled the presidential elections that took place on December 6, two days before the second round.
The cancellation came after official documents showed that front-runner Calin Georgescu, a critic of NATO, benefited from an unfair social media campaign likely orchestrated by Russia, accusations Moscow denied.
The court ordered the entire election to be repeated. The pro-European coalition government has not yet agreed on a timetable for the elections, although party leaders agreed to hold the two rounds on May 4 and 18.
Iohannis, whose term ended on December 21, will remain in office until his successor is elected.
On Sunday, tens of thousands of demonstrators, including leftists and those angry at the way the election was annulled, joined the protest organized by the far-right opposition Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), Romania's second-largest party.
Union for Human Rights coalition leader George Simeon told reporters, “We demand a return to democracy by resuming elections from the second round.”
The organizers said that 100,000 people participated in the protest, but riot police during the march estimated the numbers at about 20,000 people. The demonstrators waved flags and chanted “Freedom” and “Return the second round.”
“Our right to vote has been violated,” said Bogdan Danila, a 43-year-old truck driver. He added, “In addition, Iohannis was in power for ten years and did nothing for the people. As for the parties, they betrayed us. They are all corrupt. We want something else.”
Some protesters carried pictures of Georgescu or Orthodox Christian icons while street vendors sold flags and vuvuzelas.
“The authorities must say why the elections were canceled,” said Cornelia, 57, an economist draped in a Romanian flag who declined to give her last name. “We want to see the evidence.”
“At this rate we won't vote anymore. They will impose a leader like in the old days,” he added.
It remains unclear whether Georgescu, who opposes Romanian support for Ukraine against the Russian invasion, will be allowed to run for president again.
