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BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) \u2014 Romania\u2019s defiant far-right presidential candidate Calin Georgescu on Sunday stood outside a closed polling station to denounce a top court\u2019s unprecedented decision to annul the first round of the vote in which he emerged as frontrunner.<\/p>\n
The Constitutional Court on Friday canceled the election<\/a> after a trove of declassified intelligence alleged Russia organized a sprawling campaign across social media to promote Georgescu.<\/p>\n \u201cToday is Constitution Day and there is nothing constitutional in Romania anymore. I am here in the name of democracy,\u201d Georgescu, 62, he told media in Mogosoaia, outside Bucharest. \u201cBy canceling democracy, our very freedom is canceled.\u201d<\/p>\n See for yourself \u2014 The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The court cited the illegal use of digital technologies including artificial intelligence, as well as undeclared sources of funding. Without naming Georgescu, the court said one candidate received \u201cpreferential treatment” on social media platforms, distorting voters\u2019 expressed will.<\/p>\n Despite being a huge outsider who declared zero campaign spending, Georgescu topped the polls in the first round on Nov. 24<\/a>, and was due on Sunday to face reformist Elena Lasconi of the Save Romania Union party in a runoff.<\/p>\n Thirteen candidates ran in the first round<\/a> presidential race in the European Union and NATO member country, the aftermath of which was gripped by myriad controversies including a recount of the vote ordered by the same court.<\/p>\n New dates will be set to rerun the presidential vote from scratch.<\/p>\n Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said in a statement marking Constitution Day on Sunday that \u201cwe find ourselves in a moment of profound responsibility towards the values \u200b\u200bthat characterize us as a nation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Romanian Constitution defines the framework within which the state and political life operate, serving as a shield against threats to democracy,\u201d he said. \u201cIn turbulent times, state institutions are called upon to act with calm, wisdom and respect for the law, the Constitution and democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n After Georgescu unexpectedly topped the polls in the first round, his success left many political observers wondering how most local surveys had placed him behind at least five other candidates before the vote.<\/p>\n Many observers attributed his success to his TikTok account, which now has 6.2 million likes<\/a> and 565,000 followers. But some experts suspected Georgescu\u2019s online following was artificially inflated while Romania\u2019s top security body alleged he was given preferential treatment by TikTok<\/a> over other candidates.<\/p>\nTrusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox<\/h4>\n