Following the disqualification of Romanian ultranationalist candidate Călin Georgescu from the country’s presidential race, social media has been inundated with disinformation regarding the circumstances of his removal. False claims stating that the European Union had banned Georgescu from competing in the election started circulating online, with some blaming the EU for what they described as an “EU-dictatocracy”. Images of supposed protests against alleged EU corruption were also shared, however, a reverse image search conducted by Euroverify revealed that these images actually originated from anti-corruption protests in Serbia, not Romania. It was found that while there were protests in Romania following Georgescu’s disqualification, they were not as large as depicted in the online posts.
Georgescu, who had won the first round of Romania’s presidential elections in November, had his results annulled by the country’s constitutional court after reports of a Russian-backed campaign to influence voters on social media, particularly on TikTok. Georgescu’s strong criticism of NATO and the EU earned him the nickname of “TikTok Messiah”. Romania’s highest court further upheld the decision to reject Georgescu’s candidacy in the election rerun scheduled for May, and the Central Electoral Commission had previously suspended his application due to not meeting the legal conditions required to hold presidential office. Despite this setback, candidates are assessed on a case-by-case basis, leaving open the possibility for Georgescu to attempt to run in a future election.
In addition to Georgescu, MEP Diana Sosoaca, leader of the ultra-nationalist S.O.S Romania party with pro-Russia views, was also suspended from participating in the presidential race by the Central Electoral Commission in March. Sosoaca reacted to the ruling during a Facebook live stream, claiming that the Americans, Jews, and the European Union had conspired to rig the Romanian election. The European Commission has taken actions to address foreign interference in the Romanian elections, however, they have not banned any candidates. In December, legal proceedings were initiated against TikTok for a suspected breach of the Digital Services Act, as the platform was accused of failing to mitigate risks that threatened the integrity of Romania’s November elections.
The disinformation regarding the banning of Călin Georgescu from Romania’s presidential race was sparked by a ruling from the country’s Constitutional Court, not the EU. Despite claims made on social media, the European Commission has not been involved in any candidate disqualifications. The wave of online misinformation following Georgescu’s disqualification highlights the impact of false claims and manipulated images on public perception. As Romania prepares for the election rerun in May, it is crucial for accurate information to be disseminated to prevent further confusion and misinformation among voters. The European Commission’s efforts to address foreign interference in the electoral process underscore the importance of protecting the integrity of democratic elections in Romania and beyond.
It is evident that the disqualification of ultranationalist candidate Călin Georgescu from Romania’s presidential race has stirred up controversy and disinformation online. False claims attributing his removal to the European Union and fabricated images of protests against alleged EU corruption have spread across social media platforms, further exacerbating the situation. The involvement of Russia in influencing voters on social media, particularly through TikTok, has added a layer of complexity to the issue. Despite the challenges posed by disinformation, it is imperative for accurate information to prevail in order to uphold the integrity of Romania’s democratic process. The actions taken by the European Commission to address foreign interference in the elections underscore the importance of safeguarding the democratic values and principles of the European Union.
