Romania is poised to vote this weekend amid a political maelstrom stemming from the cancellation of its presidential elections last December. This turmoil follows the surprising rise of far-right candidate Calin Georgescu, whose initial success was nullified by accusations of Russian meddling, dubious TikTok accounts, and undisclosed payments to social media influencers. Georgescu has been arrested pending investigations into charges of attempting to subvert the constitutional framework, which he vehemently denies, asserting that authorities are fabricating evidence to legitimize what he calls "election theft."
The upcoming re-run sees George Simion, leader of the controversial AUR party, leading in polling, followed by Crin Antonescu from the National Liberal Party and independent Nicușor Dan.
At the heart of this electoral crisis are TikTok influencers reported to have participated in campaigns that allegedly amplified Georgescu's visibility on social media. Reports indicate that his ascent from the margins of political polling to capturing nearly 23% of the vote in a short span was artificial. An independent report suggested that his success on TikTok was markedly staged, aligning with findings from local authorities that over 100 influencers were hired to create pro-Georgescu content.
Social networking platform TikTok is under scrutiny for having its algorithm manipulated, with authorities claiming that a vast array of inauthentic accounts was responsible for boosting Georgescu's posts during the electoral season. Verified accounts of coordinated activity echo strategies reportedly sanctioned by the Russian government during the Ukrainian elections, yet concrete evidence of foreign interference remains elusive, leaving many Romanians frustrated.
Notably, a campaign using the hashtag "stability and integrity" inundated TikTok prior to the election. While influencers claimed to have been compensated for promoting general pro-democracy sentiments, many did not disclose payment details, violating TikTok's policies against political advertisements. Despite the absence of direct endorsements for Georgescu, influencers reported a surge in supportive comments that seemed orchestrated.
While TikTok has stated its efforts to curb fake engagement and maintain election integrity, a recent twist emerged when it was disclosed that this campaigning was covertly funded by the National Liberal Party, infuriating many. Furthermore, influencer Bogdan Peschir, dubbed the “King of TikTok,” was arrested for allegedly corrupting voters through substantial financial incentives to influencers, although he insists these payments were unrelated to the elections.
Investigations are also active at both the European Commission and Romania's judiciary to ascertain the complexities of the election annulment, and the situation remains precarious for all stakeholders. With public sentiment growing against unproven foreign involvement, analysts express doubt that clarity on these entangled affairs will surface soon, suggesting that unraveling the full extent of social media influence may take years.
