In recent days, large-scale demonstrations have taken place in the Romanian capital Bucharest and other major cities.
The protests, which gathered more than 100,000 participants in Bucharest, target the incumbent President Klaus Iohannis and the current government, which the demonstrators consider illegitimate.
The demonstrations began after Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled the results of the first round of the presidential election, in which Călin Georgescu won with 22.95% of the vote. A second round was to have been held on December 8, 2024 between Georgescu and reformist leader Elena Lasconi, but this was stopped by the court’s decision.
– We are more than a 100,000 Bucharest. Iohannis has to leave, shouted one of the protesters, adding: This usurper of a president, who has elected an illegitimate government, has to leave urgently!
Romanians are demanding the resignation of Klaus Iohannis, who is illegally occupying the position of President of Romania, as well as that of the entire government
Călin Georgescu is the legitimate President of Romania, supported by more than 70% of the population pic.twitter.com/0usf9x7HeA
— Daily Romania (@daily_romania) January 12, 2025
Protesters demand that Călin Georgescu, who won the first round of the presidential elections, be recognized as the legitimate leader of the country.
– Romanians have chosen their president. We have to resume urgently round two of the elections and let the people decide who must lead Romania!
The court’s decision was motivated by suspicions of foreign influence, particularly via social media, which allegedly benefited Georgescu’s campaign. This has been met with strong condemnation from both Georgescu and Lasconi, who say the decision is a threat to democracy.
Parallel protests in Serbia
Meanwhile, demonstrations have taken place in Serbia, where discontent over the government’s handling of a collapsed train station in Novi Sad has led to widespread protests. Some protesters have shown symbolic solidarity with their Romanian neighbors by waving Romanian flags and tearing up EU flags, underlining a regional frustration with political abuse of power.
🇷🇸🇷🇴 Romanian flag spotted during anti-government protest in Belgrade, Serbia where more than 100,000 people attended pic.twitter.com/LghzrvUV7d
— Daily Romania (@daily_romania) December 22, 2024
Check this out: Soros' Eurofanatics tried to wave the EU flag at a protest in Belgrade (Serbia).
They literally got their ass kicked 😎 pic.twitter.com/w8RIidCieV
— Mario ZNA (@MarioBojic) December 22, 2024