Romania is set to re-hold its presidential elections this weekend, following the unprecedented cancellation of the previous election in December that sparked widespread protests and unrest. The unexpected withdrawal of far-right candidate Calin Georgescu, who initially claimed a surprise victory, has led to serious allegations of foreign interference, the involvement of suspicious social media accounts, and secret payments to online influencers. Despite accusations, Moscow has firmly denied any role.
Georgescu, currently barred from running and facing criminal investigations, claims the accusations against him are fabricated to legitimize what he calls an election theft. As the election re-run approaches, George Simion, leader of Romania's AUR party, is polling as a favorite, contending with Crin Antonescu of the National Liberal Party and independent candidate Nicușor Dan.
Central to this growing political crisis are influencers on TikTok, who have been accused of participating in campaigns that artificially inflated Georgescu's public profile. Reports indicate that Georgescu, previously an unknown contender with low polling numbers, successfully leveraged TikTok to amass nearly 23% of the vote in the first round of elections. Despite widespread disbelief regarding his rapid rise, independent research posits that his TikTok fame was manufactured through orchestrated social media efforts.
According to authorities, TikTok's algorithm was manipulated in several ways during the November elections, including paid posts from over 100 hired influencers and an influx of inauthentic account comments that aimed to bolster Georgescu's visibility through the platform. These actions have drawn parallels to operations allegedly orchestrated by Russia during other electoral processes.
Ahead of the elections, influencers participated en masse in a campaign promoting a message of "stability and integrity," though the specific candidate remained unnamed. Many influencers reported being hired without full knowledge of the campaign's origin, while others did not appropriately disclose their paid endorsements, in violation of TikTok's policies against political advertising.
The aftermath revealed that the controversial hashtag campaign had reportedly been backed by the National Liberal Party, which claimed its strategy had been disrupted to favor Georgescu's candidacy unjustly.
The latter part of the controversy escalated with the arrest of Bogdan Peschir, recognized within the platform as the "King of TikTok," for allegedly bribing voters through financial incentives to support Georgescu, further complicating the narrative surrounding the elections.
Ongoing investigations continue at various levels, including the European Commission, as public frustration grows over the lack of conclusive evidence to substantiate allegations of foreign meddling. Local news outlets express concern that it may take considerable time to unravel the intricate web of misinformation and influence operations, with many Romanians feeling the impact of the unresolved situation acutely.
As the nation prepares for a stormy return to the polls, questions remain about the integrity of the electoral process and the pervasive reach of social media in shaping political landscapes.
