**Romania’s Top Court Rejects Presidential Election Bid**
The Constitutional Court in Romania has made a significant ruling, unanimously rejecting an application by defeated presidential candidate George Simion to annul the election results. The court’s decision came on May 22 and was announced in a statement.
Simion, who is the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), had appealed the results despite conceding defeat to pro-EU candidate Nicusor Dan on May 18. He claimed that there were “external interferences by state and non-state actors” that affected the outcome of the election.
However, Simion’s application was rejected as “unfounded.” The court pointed out that Dan secured a clear victory with 53.6% of the vote in the runoff, defeating Simion’s 46.4%.
**Dan Vows to Continue Supporting Ukraine and EU Ties**
Dan, who is also the mayor of Bucharest, has pledged to continue Romania’s support for Ukraine, strengthen ties with the European Union, and uphold democratic institutions. His victory comes at a crucial time, as Romania has played a critical role in Ukraine’s defense, signing a bilateral security pact with Kyiv, facilitating grain exports, and providing key air defense systems.
Dan has already met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who invited him to Ukraine for talks. The two leaders have discussed the “nearest opportunities” for them to meet and work together on issues of mutual interest.
**A Turning Point for Romanian Politics?**
The rejection of Simion’s application marks a significant turning point in Romanian politics. Simion had cited a post from Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, who claimed that a “Western European government” asked the company to restrict “conservative voices in Romania.”
However, the court rejected this claim as unfounded, and Dan’s victory is seen as a vote of confidence in his commitment to democratic values and EU ties. The previous presidential election in November 2024 was annulled due to evidence of foreign manipulation, including pro-Russian disinformation campaigns.
**Independent Journalism Needs Your Support**
The Kyiv Independent relies on the support of its community to continue providing independent journalism. We believe that reliable information should be available to all, and we’re working hard to show the world the truth about Russia’s brutal war in Ukraine.
We need your help to reach 20,000 members and prove that independent journalism can survive without paywalls or compromise. Will you join us on this journey?
Read More @ kyivindependent.com
