Description: Leading presidential candidate George Simion has announced his intention to call for an early referendum if elected president, which would effectively restate ousted candidate Calin Georgescu in the race for president of Romania. Simion has repeatedly suggested that the decision by Romania’s Constitutional Court to disqualify Georgescu represented a coup de état and the people of Romania should decide whether he should be reinstated. Simion, largely known to have aligned his political prospects with Georgescu’s pro – Russian and Eurosceptic policies, also floated the idea he could appoint Georgescu as Romania’s next Prime Minister if he becomes president. The runoff election in Romania is scheduled for 18 May when Simion would face ex – Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan with early polling favoring Simion to become Romania’s next president.
Impact: Romania’s political crisis has transpired into a prolonged domestic crisis threatening to distance the country from the European Union and align it with other pro – Russian oriented countries from the bloc such as Slovakia and Hungary. The election has been shadowed by information of escalated Russian disinformation and influence campaigns conducted through predominantly present social media platforms which propelled Simion as Georgescu’s apparent successor in the presidential race. Simion’s referendum pledges fall within the charter of presidential jurisdiction which could further cause internal destabilization and potentially position Romania as another satellite country for projection of Russian influence over the European continent.