Allegations of electoral fraud and foreign interference continue to fuel suspicions, casting a shadow over the election process.

Far-right parties, including the nationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), are expected to make significant gains in Sunday’s vote, with polls showing AUR slightly ahead of the ruling coalition’s Social Democratic Party (PSD).

The election follows a shock result in the presidential race, where Călin Georgescu, a far-right, Moscow-friendly independent, claimed an unexpected victory in the first round. Despite polling at just 5% beforehand, Georgescu topped the ballot, a result attributed to a viral TikTok campaign, reportedly boosted by bot-like activity. This outcome has sparked widespread protests and raised suspicions of external influence.

Romania's top court has ordered a recount and will decide Monday whether to annul the vote over claims of illegal activities by Elena Lasconi, the second-placed candidate. If the court upholds Georgescu's victory, he will face Lasconi in a runoff scheduled for December 8. However, if the recount leads to a delay, the presidential vote could be postponed further, adding to the country’s political instability.

The outcome of both the parliamentary and presidential elections is crucial for Romania’s future, as the country remains a key EU and NATO ally, playing a strategic role in supporting Ukraine. However, political analysts fear that the rise of far-right factions, like AUR, may signal a shift towards nationalism, threatening Romania’s alignment with Western values.

Polls from late last week show AUR with approximately 22% support, ahead of the PSD at 21%, and the Save Romania Union (USR), a center-right pro-EU party, at 17%. (ILKHA)