Romania’s Top Court: ‘No New Elections’

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

BUCHAREST/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Romania’s Constitutional Court has “unanimously” rejected an application by George Simion, the defeated nationalist candidate in Sunday’s presidential election rerun, to declare the vote invalid on the grounds of “foreign interference.”

“Following deliberations, the constitutional court unanimously rejected the request … as unfounded,” the top court ruled Thursday, adding that its decision was final and it would publish its whole reasoning later.

Simion, a self-declared admirer of U.S. President Donald J. Trump and opponent of military aid to war-torn Ukraine, filed the request on Tuesday, two days after conceding defeat to the centrist mayor of Bucharest, the capital.

Mayor Nicușor Dan won by 53.6 percent to 46.4 percent for Simion, according to official results.

In response, Simon rejected the court’s decision, saying that ” the coup continues.”

He argued that “foreign interference” from countries such as France and Moldova was part of a “coordinated manipulation.” French intelligence officials denied the allegations.

Yet Simion asked the court to annul the results “for exactly the same reasons they canceled the elections in December.”

ELECTIONS CANCELLED

At the end of last year, the first round of the Romanian presidential elections was canceled after the equally radical right-wing and pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu had won

At that time, the Constitutional Court agreed that Russia had tried to impact the election outcome in favor of a pro-Russia candidate to divide Europe.

European leaders had expressed concern about Russia’s alleged meddling in Romania’s vote as the nation is both a European Union and NATO military alliance member.

The country is also developing the largest NATO base in Europe at a time when Russia is invading neighboring Ukraine.

Yet this time, Romania’s Constitutional Court decided no foreign interference could be proven, despite Simeon, an ally of Georgescu, being the favorite in opinion polls ahead of the vote.

“We have no choice but to fight. I call on you to stand by me today and in the coming weeks,” Simion stressed.

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