Romanian prosecutors searched several properties on Saturday in an investigation into possible illegal financing in the country’s presidential election, a day after the high court ruled on allegations of Russian interference.
The court ruled on Friday that the election should be held again, plunging European Union and NATO member Romania into institutional chaos and raising concerns that public trust in the state could be eroded. .
Prosecutors have not named the candidate whose campaign is being investigated, but documents declassified by the national security council this week focused on the campaign of Calin Georgescu — a far-right, pro-Russian critic of NATO.
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Georgescu, who wants to end Romanian support for Ukraine against Russia’s invasion, had attracted just single-digit support in opinion polls before first-round voting on November 24, but rose to first place in that round, raising questions on the validity of the election.
A second round vote to decide the election had been planned for Sunday (8), until the court’s decision. A date for the rerun of the election has not yet been set.
The declassified documents showed that the electoral process was marred by vote manipulation, campaign irregularities and non-transparent financing.
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Prosecutors said three searches were carried out in the central city of Brasov.
Russia has denied accusations by Romanian authorities of interference in the election.
