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See also: 2024 Romanian parliamentary election

A presidential election was held in Romania on 24 November 2024.[1][2][3] A second round was to be held on 8 December 2024,[2][4] as no candidate achieved an absolute majority in the first round.[3] On 6 December 2024, the Constitutional Court of Romania annulled the results of the first round of the election, finding that a Russian influence operation had impacted the vote. This was the ninth presidential election held in post-revolution Romania. The incumbent Klaus Iohannis, first elected in 2014 and then re-elected in 2019, must vacate the office at the end of his term, as the Romanian Constitution allows a president to be re-elected only once.

Quick Facts Nominee, Party ...
2024–25 Romanian presidential election
← 2019 24 November 2024 (first round, annulled)[a]
8 December 2024 (second round, cancelled)		 2025 →
Opinion polls
 
Nominee Călin Georgescu Elena Lasconi Marcel Ciolacu
Party Independent USR PSD
Popular vote 2,120,401 1,772,500 1,769,760
Percentage 22.94% 19.18% 19.15%
 
Nominee George Simion Nicolae Ciucă Mircea Geoană
Party AUR PNL Independent
Popular vote 1,281,325 811,952 583,898
Percentage 13.86% 8.79% 6.32%
President before election

Klaus Iohannis
PNL

 Elected President

Election annulled
New election in 2025

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The result of the first round was a surprise, with independent nationalist candidate Călin Georgescu achieving a relative majority of votes, while the center-right politician Elena Lasconi finished second and also advanced to the runoff vote. Initially viewed as a minor candidate with little chance of victory, Georgescu quickly gained significant support through campaigning on non-traditional media outlets such as TikTok, receiving particular popularity among those disaffected with current Romanian politics, including youth, farmers, rural voters, and members of the working class. He was considered the front-runner in the race,[5] and polling conducted after the first round of voting found him to be the most popular figure in the country's politics.[6]

Corruption, LGBTQ rights, the role of Christianity in public life, and the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War are leading issues. Georgescu, who has run on a nationalist platform, has criticized the National Coalition for Romania, a grand coalition of Romania's two largest parties, as corrupt. He has favored increasing the role of Christianity in public life, promised to outlaw "LGBT propaganda",[7] put forward plans towards partly nationalizing important industries,[8] and promoted neutrality and national sovereignty, as well as non-interventionism towards the Ukrainian War, without exiting NATO or the European Union. Lasconi supports secularism, further European integration, alignment with the United States and the West, and increasing military funding towards Ukraine.

Georgescu's campaign has been endorsed by an assortment of Christian democratic, nationalist, agrarian, and communist political parties, including the Alliance for the Union of Romanians, S.O.S. Romania, Party of Young People, and the National Peasants' Party.[9] Lasconi's campaign has been endorsed by the National Liberal Party, Democracy and Solidarity Party, Save Romania Union, and Renewing Romania's European Project, among several other parties. This is the first time since 2000 that a nationalist candidate made it into the second round instead of either the National Liberals or the now defunct Democratic Liberal Party. It is also the first time in the post-Communist period that the Social Democrats failed to reach the run-off.[10][11]

The aftermath of the first presidential vote was controversial and led Romania to the brink of a political crisis.[12] President Iohannis, who chairs the country's Supreme Council of Defence, accused Georgescu's campaign of being supported by Russia. Following vote rigging allegations made by a minor candidate, the Constitutional Court of Romania ordered a recount,[13][14] but ultimately decided to confirm the results of the first round on 2 December.[15] On 6 December, the Constitutional Court reversed their decision and controversially annulled the first round of the election,[16] after intelligence documents were declassified stating that Russia had run a coordinated online campaign to promote Georgescu.[17][18][19]

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Background

Following consultations with various parliamentary groups, the government of Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu announced on 4 July 2024 that presidential elections would take place later that year on 24 November for a first round and 8 December for a second round. It also set parliamentary elections for 1 December.[20] Prior to this, there was a speculation according to which the forthcoming Romanian presidential elections might have occurred earlier than to term, in the event that incumbent President Klaus Iohannis would have been nominated as Secretary General of NATO and that he would have accepted the nomination in the meantime, then the election would have likely been called earlier than planned.[21] This ultimately did not come to pass, as Dutch former Prime Minister Mark Rutte was chosen to succeed the incumbent Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.[22]

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Candidates

National Liberal Party (PNL)

President Klaus Iohannis was not eligible for another candidacy, therefore the party sought another suitable candidate. Former Prime Minister and former PNL president Ludovic Orban stated in Tecuci, Galați County, on 22 May 2021, that he did not "rule out" a candidacy in 2024.[23] On 25 June 2021, then-Prime Minister Florin Cîțu stated in Piatra Neamț that he is "currently not considering" a presidential candidacy.[24] Furthermore, fellow party leaders considered proposing Iohannis as Prime Minister after he ceases to be president.[25] On 15 September 2024, Nicolae Ciucă was formally designated as the PNL candidate for the presidency of Romania.[26]

Social Democratic Party (PSD)

In a televised talk show on 24 April 2021, the party leader Marcel Ciolacu stated that it would be "very likely" that the party president (himself, at that time) would not run for president in 2024.[27] Asked about considering a presidential candidacy, member of the Chamber of Deputies, Alexandru Rafila vaguely answered on 4 July 2021 "never say never" but underlined that running for president is "definitely not my goal".[28] In another televised talk show, former Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu stated that the party is "going for the win" in all elections scheduled for 2024 (legislative, local, European Parliament, and presidential), and he "did not rule out" that Mircea Geoană could be again the party's presidential candidate.[29] Geoană ran for president in 2009 but narrowly lost in the second round to Traian Băsescu, who was then re-elected for a second and final term. Speculations were proven clear that Geoană was running for the presidency in 2024 but did not receive PSD support as it was initially believed according to incumbent PSD president Marcel Ciolacu.[30][31] On 26 August 2024, at the two-day PSD Congress, Ciolacu was officially designated as the party's presidential candidate.[32]

Save Romania Union (USR)

Former 2019 candidate and party co-president Dan Barna stated in several interviews in April 2021 that his candidacy was "not ruled out" and a "real scenario".[33] Party co-president Dacian Cioloș stated in an interview on 18 February 2021 that he was also considering a potential candidacy.[34] On 1 October 2021, Cioloș stated that his objective was to win the 2024 presidential election.[35] On 26 June 2024, at the two-day USR Congress, Elena Lasconi, the newly elected party president, was officially designated as the party's presidential candidate.[36][37]

People's Movement Party (PMP)

Cristian Diaconescu, then newly elected president of the party in early 2021, was designated the party's presidential candidate;[38] however, some analysts believed that Mihail Neamțu, a current member of the PMP, might run instead, either as an independent (with PMP support) or as a candidate from another party.[39] On 23 March 2022, Cristian Diaconescu was excluded from the party by the new leadership, thus losing his presidential candidate status previously granted by the PMP.[40] Diaconescu subsequently filed to run as an independent candidate.[41]

Force of the Right (FD)

On 28 June 2022, former Prime Minister, former PNL president, and current Force of the Right (FD) leader Ludovic Orban announced that he would run for president in 2024, also stating that he doesn't want to support any other candidate, being tremendously disappointed by the incumbent Klaus Iohannis.[42] Orban was the second former PNL president to run for the Romanian presidency supported by a breakaway faction of the PNL after Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu (Prime Minister between 2004 and 2008) who ran on behalf of the Liberal Reformist Party (PLR; one of the predecessors of the Romanian ALDE founded in 2015 through a merger with the Conservative Party (PC) and subsequently absorbed by the PNL in March 2022) in 2014, during that year's presidential election. On 18 November 2024, during a live TV debate, Ludovic Orban announced his withdrawal from the presidential race and his endorsement to Elena Lasconi, the USR candidate.[43] His late withdrawal kept his name on the ballot and any vote received would still be counted as his. Technically, he continued campaigning but delivered messages of endorsement for Lasconi.[3]

Romanian Ecologist Party (PER)

PER announced on 28 October 2024 its endorsement for Cristian Diaconescu.[44]

Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR)

The Alliance for the Union of Romanians nominated its leader George Simion.[45]

S.O.S. Romania

The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) notably disqualified far-right and pro-Russia S.O.S. Romania candidate Diana Șoșoacă from running, ruling that her public statements and conduct "systematically" violate the country's constitutional foundation of membership in Euro-Atlantic structures.[46][47] In response, Șoșoacă claimed "this proves the Americans, Israelis and the European Union have plotted to rig the Romanian election before it has begun".[48] The court's ruling, which was split 5–2 along party lines, was criticized by some[weasel words] for being politically motivated, undemocratic and a result of corruption,[46] including by the PNL, which ended its governing coalition with the PSD as a result of the decision.[49] PNL president Nicolae Ciucă claimed the court's decision showed the involvement of the PSD and endangers democracy in Romania, while PSD president Marcel Ciolacu reacted by saying that the Court should be reformed.[50]

Călin Georgescu

Călin Georgescu, a Romanian nationalist who is a former member of the AUR, ran as an independent.[51] He primarily conducted his campaigns through TikTok.[52]

Candidates previously qualified for the second round

These candidates were placed on the first and the second place in the first round, but none of them reached at least 50% of the votes. Thus, they qualified for the second round, to be held on 8 December 2024. The first round was later annulled by the Constitutional Court of Romania, invalidating this second round.[53]

More information Name, Born ...
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Candidates actively competed only in the first round

These candidates' bids were validated by the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC). Some candidacies were challenged by the CCR, but rejected those claims. Excludes a valid candidate that withdrew during the electoral campaign and announced his endorsement to another candidate, while his name remained on the ballot.

More information Name, Born ...
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Withdrawn candidates

These individuals were part of the race in some way and their plans stopped. Some failed to file their bid to BEC, withdrew from the race, or recanted their interest in the presidential office. Here are also included candidates who are no longer in the race due to their bid being rejected by BEC, or whose bid or candidacy were legally barred by the CCR, and a candidate that withdrew during the electoral campaign and announced his endorsement to another candidate, while his name remained on the ballot.

More information Name, Born ...
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Declined to be candidates

These individuals have been the subject of speculation, but have publicly denied their interest in running for president. Here are also included individuals legally barred from running for president.

More information Name, Born ...
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Timeline

Validated candidate
During CCR screening
During BEC screening
Official campaign
before BEC filing
Intention
Considering
Withdrawn candidate
Second round
First round
BEC filing deadline
2024 European elections
and 2024 Local elections
2020 Parliamentary
elections
2020 Local elections
Victor Ponta:ro:Oana ZăvoranuCătălin DrulăDacian CioloșDan Barna:ro:Octavian BerceanuAndrei MargaCozmin Gușă:ro:John Ion Banu:ro:Andi Grosaru:ro:Anamaria GavrilăValerian StanRemus CerneaFlorin Călinescu:ro:Eugen TeodoroviciAurelian PavelescuMiron Cozma:ro:Ciprian MegaDiana Iovanovici Șoșoacă:ro:Doina NoghinLudovic Orban:ro:Silviu PredoiuMarcel CiolacuCristian TerheșAna BirchallCristian DiaconescuMircea GeoanăNicolae CiucăKelemen HunorCălin GeorgescuElena LasconiGeorge Simion
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Leading issues

Christianity in public life

The role of Christianity and patriotism in Romanian public life has become a leading issue in the campaign. Often both supported and mocked as "The TikTok Messiah" for his religious nationalist messaging and use of the app TikTok, Georgescu has gained appeal among religious Romanians, appealing to natalism, family values, patriotism, and traditionalism.[306][307]

Corruption

Both Călin Georgescu and Elena Lasconi have criticized corruption in Romania, which has become central to their appeal.[308] Georgescu has accused the mainstream political parties, particularly the National Coalition for Romania between the center-left Social Democratic Party and the center-right National Liberal Party, of fostering corruption.[309]

Geopolitics

Lasconi favors Romania closely aligning with the United States, European Union, and NATO, while opposing Russia, while Georgescu has stated that he favors Romania's geopolitical non-alignment between the two power blocs.[310] Georgescu has also pledged to end military aid to Ukraine.[311] Following the first round, Lasconi said that Romania was in "a historical confrontation between preserving Romania's young democracy ... and those who want to return Romania to the Russian sphere of influence". She also accused Georgescu of being an isolationist and an "open admirer of Vladimir Putin". Georgescu denied being an extremist or a fascist and said that he is "completely dedicated to the Romanian people", adding: "We remain directly linked to European values, but we must find our (own) values."[310]

LGBTQ rights

LGBTQ rights are expected to be a major issue in the campaign. In the second round of the campaign, LGBTQ rights organizations have made strong endorsements for Lasconi, despite her past comments, while Georgescu explicitly rejects LGBTQ rights movements.[312] Lasconi's positions have become significantly favorable towards LGBTQ rights. Earlier in 2023, Lasconi stated that she would have voted "Yes" during the failed referendum on the constitutional prohibition of same-sex unions. Her daughter, Oana, subsequently denounced her as a "homophobe" and stated that she was "shocked and disgusted" at her mother.[313] Lasconi immediately retracted this position, stated that she does not oppose civil unions or (in the distant future) marriage for LGBTQ couples, while stating that her party remains open for individuals who are gender or sexual minorities, and that the party is open to all, "be they ... atheists [or] LGBTQ individuals".[312]

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Debates

The debates[b] started on 28 October 2024, three days after the start of the campaign. The last first round debate was broadcast on 21 November 2024, 8:30 hours before the electoral campaign ended. There had been 38 broadcast debates: 30 televised, six on the radio and three online. The broadcasters were:

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All the debates, except #17, #19 and #31:Bucharest
All the debates, except #17, #19 and #31:
Bucharest
Debates #17, #19 and #31:Timișoara
Debates #17, #19 and #31:
Timișoara
Sites of the presidential debates

Schedule

More information Debate, Date ...
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Participation

The following is a table of participating candidates in each debate:

More information Candidate, P Present (on spot or through a video/audio live call) N Not invited/Invitation declined A Absent (Invitation accepted, but failed to show up or downgraded their presence to a representative) ...
Participating candidates
Candidate
 P  Present (on spot or through a video/audio live call)  N  Not invited/Invitation declined
 A  Absent (Invitation accepted, but failed to show up or downgraded their presence to a representative) 		Total Interaction Candidate
1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
Georgescu P N N N P P P N N N N P N N P N P N N N P N P N N P N N N P P N P N P N N N 14 8/13 Georgescu
Lasconi N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N A N N N A N P A N N N P N 2 5/13 Lasconi
Ciolacu N N A N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N A N A N N N A N N N N N N 0 0/13 Ciolacu
Simion A N N N N N N N N A N N N A N N N N N N N N N N N A A N N N N P N N N N P N 2 5/13 Simion
Ciucă N A N N N N N N N N N N A N N N N N A N N N N N N A N A N N N A N N N N N N 0 0/13 Ciucă
Geoană N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N A A N N N N P N N N N N N 1 5/13 Geoană
Kelemen N N P P N N N N N N N N N N N N A N N N A N N N N A N N N P N P N N N N N N 4 8/13 Kelemen
Diaconescu N N N P N N A N N N P N A N N P N P N N N A N P N P P P N N N P N N N N N N 9 11/13 Diaconescu
Terheș N P P N N P N N P P N N N P P N P N N N N P N P P P P N N N N N N P N N N P 15 8/13 Terheș
Birchall N N N N N N P P A N N N N N N N N N P N P P N P P P P N N N P N N N P N N P 12 7/13 Birchall
Popescu P N N N P P N N P P N N N P N N P N N P N N N N P P N N N P A N P N N P N N 13 8/13 Popescu
Păcuraru N P N N A N N N N N N N P N N N N N P N N N P N N P N N P N N N N P N P N N 8 7/13 Păcuraru
Predoiu N N N N N N N N N N N P P N N N N N A P N N A N N P N N N N N N N N N P N N 5 7/13 Predoiu
Orban N N P P N N N P N N P N N N A P N P N N P N N N N P N P P N N P — — — — — — 11 11/13 Orban
Electoral Coverage 23.10 1.19 5.76 7.83 23.10 24.14 23.41 0.68 1.20 1.20 3.32 23.06 0.28 1.20 23.98 3.32 24.14 3.32 0.62 0.28 23.62 1.50 23.10 4.63 1.66 28.20 4.63 3.32 0.37 27.61 23.41 47.19 23.10 1.19 23.41 0.44 33.04 1.50 — — Electoral Coverage
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Opinion polls

Main article: Opinion polling for the 2024 Romanian presidential election
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Endorsements

Party endorsements

The table below lists the political parties and other political organizations that supported any of the candidates in the first and second rounds of the presidential election.

More information Alliance, Party ...
Alliance Party Ideology First round Second round
PSD Alliance Social Democratic Party Social democracy Marcel Ciolacu Elena Lasconi[439]
PRO Romania Social liberalism Marcel Ciolacu[c] Călin Georgescu[442]
National Liberal Party Liberal conservatism Nicolae Ciucă Elena Lasconi[443]
Alliance for the Union of Romanians Romanian nationalism George Simion Călin Georgescu[444]
Save Romania Union Liberalism Elena Lasconi Elena Lasconi
S.O.S. Romania Ultranationalism Invalid[d] Călin Georgescu[446]
AFDLC Force of the Right Liberal conservatism Elena Lasconi[447] Elena Lasconi
People's Movement Party National conservatism Elena Lasconi[448] Elena Lasconi
The Right Alternative National conservatism Elena Lasconi[447] Elena Lasconi
National Peasants' Party Maniu-Mihalache Agrarianism Elena Lasconi[447] Elena Lasconi
PDPP Renewing Romania's European Project Liberalism Elena Lasconi[449] Elena Lasconi
Democracy and Solidarity Party Democratic socialism Elena Lasconi[450] Elena Lasconi
Volt Romania Social liberalism No endorsement Elena Lasconi[451]
Health Education Nature Sustainability Party Progressivism No endorsement Elena Lasconi[452]
PNCR Alliance National Conservative Party National conservatism Cristian Terheș No endorsement
Republican Party Romanian nationalism Cristian Terheș[453] Călin Georgescu[454]
National Identity Force Party Romanian nationalism Cristian Terheș[455] No endorsement
Ecologist Party Green conservatism Cristian Diaconescu[456] No endorsement
Romania in Action Party Localism Mircea Geoană No endorsement
Green Party Green politics No endorsement Elena Lasconi[457]
National Action League Party Social liberalism Silviu Predoiu No endorsement[458]
Greater Romania Party Romanian nationalism Mircea Geoană[459] Călin Georgescu[460]
Christian Democratic National Peasants' Party Agrarianism No endorsement Călin Georgescu[461]
Nationhood Party Ultranationalism No endorsement Călin Georgescu[462]
Sovereigntist Bloc Sovereigntism No endorsement Călin Georgescu[463]
ASR Socialist Party Communism No endorsement Călin Georgescu[464]
Social Democratic Workers' Party Socialism No endorsement Călin Georgescu[464]
Communist Party of the 21st Century Marxism–Leninism No endorsement Călin Georgescu[464]
Communists' Party Communism Boycott[465] Călin Georgescu[466]
Party of Young People Right-wing populism Călin Georgescu[54] Călin Georgescu
National Christian Alliance Christian nationalism Cristian Diaconescu[467] Călin Georgescu[468]
Alternative for National Dignity Romanian nationalism Alexandra Păcuraru Călin Georgescu[469]
New Romania Party Populism Sebastian Popescu No endorsement[470]
Patriots of the Romanian People Romanian nationalism No endorsement Călin Georgescu[471]
Village Party Agrarianism No endorsement Călin Georgescu[472]
Patria Party Romanian nationalism No endorsement Călin Georgescu[473]
UDMR Alliance Democratic Alliance of Hungarians Hungarian minority interests Hunor Kelemen Elena Lasconi[474]
Hungarian Alliance of Transylvania Hungarian nationalism Hunor Kelemen[475] Against Georgescu[476]
Hungarian Civic Force Hungarian minority interests Hunor Kelemen[477] Elena Lasconi[474]
GPMN Party of the Roma Romani minority interests Marcel Ciolacu[478] No endorsement[479]
Democratic Forum of Germans German minority interests Against extremists[480] Elena Lasconi[481]
Union of the Ukrainians Ukrainian minority interests No endorsement Euro-Atlantic option[482]
Federation of the Jewish Communities Jewish minority interests No endorsement Elena Lasconi[483]
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Second round candidate endorsements

More information Candidate, First round ...
Candidate First round Endorsement
Marcel Ciolacu 19.15% Elena Lasconi[439]
George Simion 13.87% Călin Georgescu[444]
Nicolae Ciucă 8.79% Elena Lasconi[484]
Mircea Geoană 6.32% Elena Lasconi[485]
Hunor Kelemen 4.50% Elena Lasconi[474]
Cristian Diaconescu 3.10% Elena Lasconi[486]
Cristian Terheș 1.04% No endorsement
Ana Birchall 0.46% No endorsement
Ludovic Orban[e] 0.22% Elena Lasconi[447]
Sebastian Popescu 0.16% No endorsement[470]
Alexandra Păcuraru 0.16% Călin Georgescu[469]
Silviu Predoiu 0.12% No endorsement[458]
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Other endorsements

Recently reelected Moldovan president Maia Sandu, who is also a Romanian citizen, announced her support for Elena Lasconi in the second round of the election.[487] Georgian president Salome Zourabichvili also expressed support for Lasconi, just like French President Emmanuel Macron.[488][489] Răzvan Burleanu, the president of the Romanian Football Federation, urged fans to support "European values".[490] The Romanian Orthodox Church said it supported Romania's membership in the European Union.[491]

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Results

More information Candidate, Party ...
CandidatePartyFirst round
(annulled)		Second round
(cancelled)
Votes%Votes%
Călin GeorgescuIndependent2,120,40122.940–
Elena LasconiSave Romania Union1,772,50019.180–
Marcel CiolacuSocial Democratic Party1,769,76019.15
George SimionAlliance for the Union of Romanians1,281,32513.86
Nicolae CiucăNational Liberal Party811,9528.79
Mircea GeoanăIndependent583,8986.32
Hunor KelemenDemocratic Alliance of Hungarians416,3534.50
Cristian DiaconescuIndependent286,8423.10
Cristian TerheșRomanian National Conservative Party95,7821.04
Ana BirchallIndependent42,8530.46
Ludovic Orban[e]Force of the Right20,0890.22
Sebastian PopescuNew Romania Party14,6830.16
Alexandra PăcuraruAlternative for National Dignity14,5020.16
Silviu PredoiuNational Action League Party11,2460.12
Total9,242,186100.000–
Valid votes9,242,18697.640–
Invalid/blank votes223,0712.360–
Total votes9,465,257100.000100.00
Registered voters/turnout18,008,48052.560–
Source: Permanent Electoral Authority
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First round (annulled)

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Electoral performance of candidates from the   PSD,   PNL and   PD/PDL in the first round of Romanian presidential elections, 2000─2024

The results of the first round of voting were widely described as a shock, with both second round contenders Călin Georgescu and Elena Lasconi outperforming polling expectations.[10][11] The underwhelming performance of Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu led to the first presidential election in the history of post-communist Romania in which the Social Democratic candidate did not make it to the second round of voting. The National Liberals marked their worst ever result in a presidential race, as Nicolae Ciucă ended up in fifth place with 8.79% of the vote. Right-wing populist George Simion also registered a weak result, after it was widely speculated he would advance to the second round in December.[492]

Turnout was higher than in 2019, with 9,465,257 Romanians showing up to the polls, representing 52.56% of the eligible electorate.

More information County, Georgescu ...
First round results by county
County Georgescu Lasconi Ciolacu Simion Ciucă Geoană Kelemen
Votes  % Votes  % Votes  % Votes  % Votes  % Votes  % Votes  %
Alba 33,534 21.88% 21,669 14.14% 24,175 15.77% 24,473 15.97% 28,191 18.39% 8,214 5.36% 4,326 2.82%
Arad 39,940 23.29% 25,016 14.58% 25,522 14.88% 29,571 17.24% 22,701 13.23% 8,896 5.18% 8,525 4.97%
Argeș 66,494 24.84% 48,253 18.03% 66,229 24.74% 38,932 14.54% 20,304 7.58% 14,977 5.59% 411 0.15%
Bacău 55,255 23.35% 39,126 16.53% 58,805 24.85% 37,376 15.79% 15,163 6.40% 15,756 6.66% 2,203 0.93%
Bihor 40,789 16.81% 30,266 12.47% 40,761 16.80% 28,309 11.66% 36,745 15.14% 10,077 4.15% 43,959 18.12%
Bistrița-Năsăud 28,413 25.44% 14,655 13.12% 25,474 22.81% 15,366 13.76% 11,412 10.21% 6,785 6.07% 3,889 3.48%
Botoșani 37,249 25.75% 14,812 10.24% 40,057 27.69% 23,391 16.17% 12,834 8.87% 9,282 6.41% 384 0.26%
Brașov 55,057 20.71% 70,209 26.41% 39,270 14.77% 31,273 11.76% 19,502 7.33% 22,750 8.55% 9,896 3.72%
Brăila 32,360 26.33% 14,347 11.67% 33,877 27.57% 18,512 15.06% 10,387 8.45% 6,756 5.49% 431 0.35%
Bucharest 132,656 14.54% 326,844 35.82% 135,374 14.83% 91,020 9.97% 60,415 6.62% 94,500 10.36% 4,180 0.46%
Buzău 40,176 22.31% 18,824 10.45% 72,892 40.49% 23,222 12.90% 9,865 5.48% 7,952 4.41% 307 0.17%
Caraș-Severin 22,300 22.10% 12,667 12.55% 27,112 26.87% 17,285 17.13% 10,368 10.27% 4,869 4.82% 842 0.83%
Călărași 28,189 26.16% 11,951 11.09% 27,969 25.96% 17,868 16.58% 12,136 11.26% 4,929 4.57% 372 0.34%
Cluj 53,461 15.36% 105,733 30.38% 36,734 10.55% 37,654 10.82% 33,239 9.55% 28,028 8.05% 31,315 9.00%
Constanța 78,723 26.50% 57,768 19.44% 49,743 16.74% 43,236 14.55% 24,944 8.39% 22,777 7.66% 824 0.27%
Covasna 5,530 7.26% 4,730 6.21% 4,876 6.40% 4,191 5.50% 1,772 2.32% 1,418 1.86% 52,078 68.39%
Dâmbovița 53,482 26.03% 27,951 13.60% 56,694 27.59% 31,075 15.12% 15,767 7.67% 10,913 5.31% 365 0.17%
Dolj 48,124 17.92% 35,472 13.20% 81,714 30.42% 42,785 15.93% 32,297 12.02% 18,288 6.81% 394 0.14%
Galați 47,675 22.11% 32,538 15.09% 57,928 26.87% 34,645 16.07% 15,784 7.32% 14,109 6.54% 626 0.29%
Giurgiu 26,461 22.97% 10,680 9.27% 23,522 20.42% 15,451 13.41% 30,573 26.54% 4,708 4.08% 184 0.15%
Gorj 32,981 23.44% 14,955 10.63% 36,836 26.18% 31,206 22.18% 12,200 8.67% 6,798 4.83% 574 0.40%
Harghita 4,114 3.49% 4,195 3.56% 4,346 3.69% 3,183 2.70% 1,600 1.35% 1,480 1.25% 97,290 82.65%
Hunedoara 37,117 22.34% 24,283 14.61% 36,706 22.09% 30,973 18.64% 13,626 8.20% 9,926 5.97% 3,330 2.00%
Ialomița 25,171 27.06% 11,701 12.58% 25,665 27.59% 16,324 17.55% 5,078 5.45% 4,806 5.16% 332 0.35%
Iași 75,455 22.01% 84,440 24.63% 63,281 18.46% 43,866 12.79% 29,466 8.59% 26,679 7.78% 855 0.24%
Ilfov 61,895 23.56% 67,229 25.59% 33,977 12.93% 32,759 12.47% 30,242 11.51% 21,977 8.36% 739 0.28%
Maramureș 37,158 22.63% 27,812 16.94% 31,144 18.97% 26,173 15.94% 15,637 9.52% 9,551 5.81% 7,437 4.53%
Mehedinți 17,454 15.43% 8,039 7.11% 40,466 35.79% 18,524 16.38% 21,062 18.62% 4,012 3.54% 264 0.23%
Mureș 31,201 14.70% 29,076 13.70% 27,355 12.89% 26,370 12.43% 14,761 6.95% 10,438 4.92% 64,928 30.60%
Neamț 45,065 24.24% 28,682 15.43% 43,790 23.55% 30,760 16.54% 15,399 8.28% 11,010 5.92% 857 0.46%
Olt 29,832 21.79% 15,676 8.57% 71,054 38.88% 27,137 14.85% 15,512 8.48% 7,819 4.27% 213 0.11%
Prahova 82,268 26.03% 57,504 18.19% 61,709 19.52% 45,880 14.51% 26,447 8.36% 21,980 6.95% 778 0.24%
Satu Mare 15,606 13.28% 12,810 10.90% 17,545 14.93% 12,749 10.85% 10,536 8.96% 4,545 3.86% 39,640 33.73%
Sălaj 15,311 16.48% 11,648 12.53% 14,575 15.68% 10,814 11.64% 12,823 13.80% 4,392 4.72% 18,573 19.99%
Sibiu 47,770 26.34% 42,755 23.58% 21,650 11.94% 21,129 11.65% 19,453 10.73% 12,780 7.04% 2,320 1.27%
Suceava 72,752 28.47% 28,815 11.27% 58,344 22.83% 44,675 17.48% 22,255 8.71% 14,019 5.48% 856 0.33%
Teleorman 25,839 18.60% 11,306 8.13% 53,430 38.46% 20,243 14.57% 17,866 12.86% 5,404 3.89% 155 0.11%
Timiș 66,016 21.37% 87,726 28.40% 42,865 13.87% 42,935 13.90% 21,007 6.80% 22,988 7.44% 5,596 1.81%
Tulcea 21,185 26.89% 10,741 13.63% 16,537 20.99% 15,545 19.73% 5,722 7.26% 4,523 5.74% 216 0.27%
Vaslui 32,352 23.06% 18,645 13.29% 42,503 30.30% 23,461 16.72% 8,857 6.31% 7,265 5.18% 464 0.33%
Vâlcea 34,484 22.76% 18,695 12.34% 39,397 26.01% 28,007 18.49% 14,816 9.78% 8,766 5.78% 401 0.26%
Vrancea 27,407 20.34% 16,098 11.94% 34,862 25.87% 26,510 19.67% 16,007 11.88% 7,104 5.27% 215 0.15%
Diaspora 345,925 43.35% 214,033 26.82% 22,893 2.87% 96,339 12.07% 36,934 4.63% 38,966 4.88% 4,738 0.59%
Total 2,120,401 22.94% 1,772,500 19.18% 1,769,760 19.15% 1,281,325 13.86% 811,952 8.79% 583,898 6.32% 416,353 4.50%
Source: Permanent Electoral Authority
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Aftermath and controversies

After failing to advance to the runoff, Marcel Ciolacu announced his resignation as leader of the Social Democratic Party on 25 November; however, he will remain the Prime Minister until a new government is formed following parliamentary elections on 1 December.[493] Nicolae Ciucă also resigned as leader of the National Liberal Party after failing to advance to the runoff.[494] Amid discussion over the role of social media in Călin Georgescu's strong showing, Ciolacu also called for funding for Georgescu's campaign on TikTok to be reviewed, while MEP and Renew Europe leader Valérie Hayer called on TikTok's CEO to answer questions about the platform's role in the election before the European Parliament, citing the Digital Services Act.[495] The National Audiovisual Council of Romania also called for the European Commission to investigate TikTok's role in the election, while the national telecommunications regulator Ancom called for TikTok to be suspended as part of an investigation into electoral manipulation. Romanian president Klaus Iohannis also accused TikTok of failing to mark Georgescu's account as that of a political candidate. TikTok subsequently denied favouring Georgescu. Protests also broke out against Georgescu in Bucharest and several other cities in Romania.[496] An analysis by the Romanian news outlet G4 Media found that Georgescu mounted a "propaganda machine" using thousands of supposed "volunteers" to spread his campaign messaging, adding that those involved received pre-made materials on Telegram that could readily be posted as comments on TikTok and other platforms.[497] TikTok executives said that they had taken down several networks engaged in election interference in Romania.[498]

On 27 November, two minor candidates, Sebastian Constantin Popescu and Cristian Terheș submitted requests to the Constitutional Court of Romania to annul the results of the first round of the election.[499] On 28 November, the court ruled unanimously to recount all ballots cast in the first round,[500] with a decision on whether to annul the results expected on 2 December.[494] In their appeals, Terheș accused the USR of violating election law by campaigning among diaspora voters on polling day and alleged that votes cast for Ludovic Orban had been transferred to Elena Lasconi. Popescu accused Georgescu, who declared zero campaign spending, of failing to disclose financing linked to TikTok. The Central Election Bureau later said that scanned reports were due to be delivered by 1 December and the original ballots by 3 December.[501] Additionally, the Supreme Council of National Defence convened and called for an investigation into alleged attacks on the electoral infrastructure and suspicions of illegal campaigning by Călin Georgescu.[502] Georgescu denied the accusations against him, while Lasconi criticised the recount and called on the Central Election Bureau to handle the process "wisely".[501]

Annulment and reactions

On 2 December, the Constitutional Court ruled unanimously to confirm the first round results and upheld the organisation of the runoff on 8 December between Georgescu and Lasconi;[15] however, the Court reversed its decision on 6 December and annulled the election results after President Iohannis allowed the declassification of information in the Supreme Council of National Defence. The Romanian Service of Information also declared that Georgescu said he had "Zero lei electoral campaign budget", but subsequent investigations revealed an undeclared donation of up to €1,000,000 from third parties. This prompted the Court to annull the election results.[503]

The annulment was condemned by both Georgescu and Lasconi, with Georgescu describing the court's verdict as a "formalised coup d'état",[504] and Lasconi calling it "illegal [and] immoral" and stating that it "crushes the very essence of democracy". Fourth-placed George Simion also called the verdict a "coup d'état in full swing" but urged against street protests. Third-placed Marcel Ciolacu called the annulment "the only correct decision".[505]

President Iohannis also said the court's decision was legitimate and should be respected, adding that he would remain in office until a successor is inaugurated.[506] Russian state interference in the election was widely reported, including state-sponsored cyberattacks, and the annulment was described as "an extraordinary step" by The Washington Post.[16][17][18]

The annulment also forced a halt to advanced voting in 951 overseas polling stations for the diaspora that had opened on 6 December, after approximately 50,000 Romanians had cast ballots.[507][508]

On 7 December, prosecutors searched properties across the country in an investigation into the financing of a candidate's campaign, with investigators saying money laundering was used to fund the campaign. Although the candidate's name was not revealed, Georgescu and his campaign were reportedly the target of the searches.[509]

On the day of the cancelled runoff, Georgescu and around 100 of his supporters held a protest outside a polling station in Bucharest demanding that the election be held. An online petition calling for free elections was also launched by the AUR, which supported Georgescu.[510] Following the annulment of the presidential election, the new government formed after the 2024 Romanian parliamentary election on 1 December is expected to set new dates for a presidential vote.[511] Ilie Bolojan, president of the PNL, said the rerun will likely occur either before Easter in late March or early April, or after Easter in May.[512]

On 17 December, the European Commission announced an investigation into TikTok over interference in the elections.[513]

On 21 December, the political magazine Politico Europe reported that the pro-European PNL had financed a general political campaign, the hashtags of which were then used to promote Georgescu.[514]

See also

Notes

  1. Annulled by the Constitutional Court on 6 December 2024
  2. In order for a debate to be counted as such, there must be at least two candidates present. The following situations are not considered proper debates: one candidate with one or multiple interviewers; one candidate with a representative (or more) of other candidate(s); only representatives of candidates (no matter how many candidates were represented); one candidate debating a previously recorded video of other candidate(s); short live statements of a candidate (via telephone or video streaming) inserted during a show with only one (other) candidate; short coincidental encounters of candidates (in a non-previously organized debate) that spoke to each other (and were recorded, even on professional cameras in TV studios). Any debate must be publicly broadcast. Negotiations behind closed doors, "strategic meetings" among candidates or any other type of discreet talks are not proper debates, even if their content (or bits of it) was released to the public, with/without the candidates' approval of its release.

    Debates may be broadcast on radio, television, or the internet. Candidates may show up in person or participate in the debate via telephone or video streaming for the entire debate time. Candidates who left the debate before 10% of the debate time elapsed (after a few words or several minutes) are considered absentees and their leaving is noted as such. In this particular situation (if it will occur), the debate is considered a valid one, because at least two candidates were present at its beginning. Candidates who left before the debate's ending are considered present, with their particular situation noted as such. Re-runs or syndication are not counted as different debates.

  3. At least by the local branches in Sibiu County[440] and Sălaj County.[441]
  4. The party called to write-in Diana Iovanovici Șoșoacă[445] thus making the ballot invalid.
  5. Orban withdrew in favour of Lasconi, but was still on the ballot.

References

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