The move follows a controversial first round in which far-right candidate Călin Georgescu, known for his Moscow-friendly ultranationalist stance, emerged as the unexpected frontrunner. Georgescu, previously polling at just 5%, won the round after a campaign fueled by viral TikTok videos, which reportedly benefited from suspicious bot-like activity.

The Romanian presidency has raised concerns about cyberattacks aimed at influencing the election’s integrity. A statement from the Supreme Council of National Defence suggested Russia played a role in manipulating public opinion and the electoral process. It also accused TikTok of providing "preferential treatment" to Georgescu, alleging that his content was not flagged as political, granting him an unfair advantage.

TikTok has denied the allegations, asserting that its platform enforces strict guidelines against election misinformation and treated all candidates equally. A company spokesperson categorically dismissed claims that Georgescu’s account received special treatment.

The recount order stems from a complaint alleging fraud in votes attributed to Elena Lasconi, the centre-right candidate who finished second and will face Georgescu in the runoff on December 8. While the court agreed to a recount, it rejected a separate fraud claim against Georgescu on procedural grounds, stating the complaint was submitted too late.

Toni Greblă, president of Romania’s central electoral bureau, acknowledged the court’s ruling and noted that the recount of approximately 9.5 million votes could take several days to complete.

Observers have warned that the court’s decision risks undermining public trust in Romania's institutions ahead of critical parliamentary elections and the presidential runoff. The turmoil surrounding the first-round results comes at a sensitive time for Romania, a key EU and NATO ally.

The recount aims to ensure electoral transparency but has added to political tensions in a country grappling with concerns over external interference and the influence of social media on its democratic processes.

Elena Lasconi’s campaign team has welcomed the recount, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the credibility of Romania’s democratic institutions as the nation heads toward the December 8 runoff. (ILKHA)