The Romanians return to the polls this Sunday for a capital presidential election, after the cancellation of the first vote last December against the backdrop of cyberattacks and manipulations orchestrated by Moscow. An election scrutinized closely in Europe, where Russian influence operations multiply from Bucharest in Paris.
The Romanians called to the polls this Sunday, for the first round of a presidential election scrutive closely in Europe. And for good reason, a first presidential election organized at the end of December 2024 had been canceled following suspicions of Russian interference.
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Moscow is suspected of having orchestrated a cyber attack to fake the result of the elections, and to be at the origin of a large campaign of interference on the Tiktok network. A Romanian example far from an isolated case.
“Romania is clearly a target of choice for Russia”
The presidential campaign, which has just ended in Romania, was therefore made with reinforced control of political publications on social networks to try to limit Russian interference. The fact remains that the shadow of Moscow always hovers on the ballot.
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“Romania is clearly a target of choice for Russia from a tactical and military point of view. If Romania rocked in a position of neutrality towards the Ukrainian conflict, it would be a huge victory for Russia”, a book Fabrice Epelboin, specialist in cybersecurity and political use of social networks.
And Moscow multiplies its actions online to weigh in European elections. “We are talking about a disinformation campaign. These are people with false accounts that will typically make glowing comments under the candidate who has been appointed by the Kremlin. It is a multitude of things that are similar to electoral marketing, except that it is electoral marketing made by a foreign country,” he details.
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France in Moscow’s eye?
France is also a target of choice for Moscow, believes the researcher: “Because France has taken the leadership of the camp which is now opposed to Russia now that the Americans are letting go.”
The French authorities also accused this week very officially the Russians of having hacked the 2017 campaign of Emmanuel Macron. Finally, the looks are also turned to Poland where the first round of the presidential election is scheduled for May 18.
