The announcement, on Friday, December 6, two days before the presidential run-off, sent a shockwave throughout Romania, a country beset by growing political tensions: "The Constitutional Court cancels the entire electoral process for the election of Romania's president."

Calin Georgescu, the far right, pro-Russian candidate who came out on top in the first round seized the opportunity to portray himself as a victim of the system. "The nine judges of the Constitutional Court cannot impose their authority on the will of 9 million Romanians who voted," he said after the elections were annulled. "We are faced with an imbalance of the State's three powers. The Romanian people are sovereign and no one can stop me, because I am their representative. I'm writing a page in history that the current system won't be able to erase. This is quite simply an organized coup d'état. Our democracy is in danger."

"Today, the Romanian State has brought democracy to its knees," said Elena Lasconi, the pro-European candidate who came second in the first round of voting on November 24. "The economy is collapsing, democracy is being destroyed and the country is heading for anarchy."

The credibility of Romania's Constitutional Court has been put to the test as it has failed to provide a clear justification for its controversial decision. This institution, supposed to be the pillar of justice, has seen its independence called into question.

Although its nine judges are appointed for a single nine-year term, their selection is based on a political process: One-third is appointed by the Chamber of Deputies, another by the Senate and the last by the president. Despite the efforts of the Superior Council of Magistrates to establish an independent appointment process, the court remains linked to the spheres of power. This proximity has fueled suspicion about its ability to make impartial decisions. The current crisis, which has now moved from the ballot box to the legal arena, highlights these vulnerabilities.

The first round of the presidential election had thwarted polls by eliminating the heavyweights of the two historic parties: The social-democrat prime minister, Marcel Ciolacu, and the liberal Nicolae Ciuca. Through their votes, Romanians expressed their rejection of the traditional parties that have alternated in power since the fall of communism 35 years ago. Today, political choices are made on TikTok and other social media. This is how two anti-system candidates, Calin Georgescu and Elena Lasconi, emerged on the political scene.

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