Romanian protesters want the presidential election to be canceled and go ahead By Reuters

BUCHAREST (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of Romanians angry at the annulment of presidential elections marched in Bucharest on Sunday to demand that the elections go ahead and that incumbent President Klaus Iohannis resign.

In a move that divided the electorate, Romania’s supreme court annulled the presidential election on December 6, two days before the second round.

The cancellation came after government documents showed former leader Calin Georgescu, a NATO critic, benefited from a biased social media campaign allegedly orchestrated by Russia, allegations Moscow has denied. .

The court ordered a full re-run of the election. The pro-European coalition government has not yet adopted a calendar for the elections, although party leaders have agreed to hold two rounds on May 4 and May 18.

Iohannis, whose term expires on December 21, will continue until his successor is appointed.

On Sunday, tens of thousands of protesters, including left-wing ones angered by the way the election was annulled, joined the protest organized by the hard-line opposition Alliance for Uniting Romanian (AUR) party. , the second largest party in Romania.

“We are asking for a return to democracy by resuming elections in the second round,” AUR leader George Simion told reporters.

Organizers said 100,000 people were at the protest, but riot police at the march estimated the number at around 20,000. Protesters waved flags and chanted “Freedom” and “Bring back the second round.”

Bogdan Danila, a 43-year-old truck driver said: “Our right to vote was broken. “In addition, Iohannis was in power for ten years and did nothing for the people, while the groups they are still pretending, they are all rotten. We want something else.”

Some protesters carried portraits of Georgescu or Orthodox Christians while street vendors sold flags and vuvuzelas.

“The authorities must say why they canceled the election, we want to see the evidence,” said Cornelia, 57, an economist draped in a Romanian flag who declined to give her name. last.

“At this rate we’re not going to vote anymore, they’re going to force a leader like in the old days.”

It remains unclear whether Georgescu, who opposes Romania’s support for Ukraine against Russian aggression, will be allowed to run for president again.