The recent decision by the Romanian Constitutional Court to annul the presidential elections of November 24, 2024, has shaken European public opinion. This measure was taken following intelligence reports highlighting Russian interference in the electoral process, particularly through campaigns on platforms like TikTok in support of the pro-Russian far-right candidate, Calin Georgescu.

Investigations revealed the use of thousands of fake accounts to promote Georgescu, raising concerns about the legitimacy of the vote. Faced with such threats to democratic sovereignty, authorities deemed it necessary to cancel the elections to ensure the integrity of the process.

However, this decision raises fundamental questions: can the suspension of a democratic process be justified by the need to protect democracy itself?

The European Union now faces a significant challenge: supporting Romania in restoring a transparent and legitimate electoral process while ensuring that measures taken to counter interference do not set a dangerous precedent for suspending democracy in other circumstances. Defending democracy requires a delicate balance between security and freedom, a task the EU must tackle with determination and caution.