Romanian court cancels presidential election in latest political earthquake

The first round of the elections saw a previously unknown far-right nationalist candidate Călin Georgescu top the polls in a shock result.

Transcript

00:00A top Romanian court annulled the first round of the country's presidential election, days

00:08after allegations that Russia ran a coordinated online campaign to promote far-right candidate

00:14Kalin Djordjescu.

00:16The entire electoral process will be redone at a date yet to be set.

00:21Despite being a huge outsider who declared zero campaign spending, Djordjescu came out

00:26on top of that first round.

00:28He was due to face off against centrist pro-EU candidate Elena Lascone this weekend.

00:37The constitutional court's unprecedented and final decision came after the Romanian president

00:42declassified intelligence that alleged Russia ran a sprawling campaign comprising thousands

00:48of social media accounts to promote Djordjescu.

00:53The news leaves the country in an unparalleled political situation with unforeseen consequences.