Romanians Protest Cancellation of Presidential Poll Led by Independent Candidate

First-round election results were annulled last month after a critic of Western support for Ukraine unexpectedly emerged as the front-runner.

Calin Georgescu, an independent candidate in the presidential elections, speaks to media in Izvorani, Romania, on Nov. 26, 2024. Andreea Alexandru/AP Photo

Tens of thousands of Romanians demonstrated in Bucharest on Jan. 12 against last month’s controversial annulment of the first-round results of a presidential poll led by independent candidate Calin Georgescu.

“We are protesting against the coup d’état that took place on Dec. 6,” George Simion, leader of the right-leaning Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, told reporters at the protest.