Romania's Constitutional Court Confirms Validity of First Round of Presidential Elections

The Constitutional Court of Romania has declared the first round of the presidential election valid. This was announced by the president of the institution, Marian Enache, who stressed that the second round of the presidential election will be held on 8 December between Kelin Georgescu and Elena Lasconi, Digi24 reports.

The Constitutional Court also rejected the complaint of the National Conservative Party candidate Cristian Terheș, who demanded the cancellation of the results of the first round due to alleged irregularities. The results of the recount did not reveal any serious deviations, and the court declared them valid.

PSD President Marcel Ciolacu, who had dropped out of the race, in his first reaction after the court confirmed the first round of the presidential election, refused to give a voting recommendation for the second round. 

‘People will decide for themselves what is best for Romania on 8 December,’ Ciolacu said. 

Journalists repeatedly asked him who the PSD supports in the second round of elections and what voting recommendation he would give, but each time he refused to name a candidate or suggest who he would support.

In turn, Elena Lasconi has also already made her first statements after the results were announced. She emphasised the importance of the unity of the Romanian people for the country's security and stressed that her goal is to be president for all citizens.

Lascăni also announced talks with political leaders about support in the second round, including discussions with the PSD (Social Democratic Party).

The candidate advocates the creation of a national unity government with representatives of the PSD, PNL (National Liberal Party), USR and UDMR (Union of Hungarians in Romania), where both a technocrat and a social democrat can become prime minister.