Romania’s ‘rigged’ election shows Europe the dangers of Russian disinformation | Paula Erizanu

The playbook used to propel an ultranationalist to the top of the polls in last month's election must not be repeated

Many days have passed since Romania's tumultuous election, in which a far-right independent candidate topped the polls, but in crucial regards things are not much clearer. Was this truly the will of the people, or the doing of a network of Russian agents of influence? It leaves our country mired in its biggest political crisis in 35 years, with the constitutional court having annulled the first round of presidential elections after allegations that Russia, through means unclear but broadly familiar, promoted Clin Georgescu. He didn't even make it into the top five positions of most opinion polls before the vote, but won the first round of presidential elections on 23 November with 23% of the vote. The burning issue is the need to know how and why.

To his proponents, Georgescu spoke to Romanians' frustration with the traditional political parties and system. Devotees will say Georgescu was the providential leader the country had been waiting for.