The pro-Russian candidate Kelin Georgescu, who unexpectedly won the first round of the presidential election in Romania, used an unprecedented TikTok campaign. This is stated in a joint investigation by the Research and Analysis Group InfoLight.UA, theIntermarium Information Center, and the Center for Security and Development.
A week before the election, Georgescu’s rating was only 5%, but in the end he received 22.9% of the vote, outperforming all the favorites in the race. His videos on TikTok gained 52 million views a few days before the vote.
The investigation revealed a complex two-level system of influence. At the first stage, dozens of popular bloggers were engaged through the FameUp platform and paid to create “neutral” videos about the qualities of the future president. At the second stage, a network of “volunteers” was activated on Telegram to share and comment on the content.
“I feel deeply deceived. We were told that it was just a call to participate in the elections,” said Medelina Goshoy, one of the bloggers involved.
Georgescu, a former expert on sustainable development, is known for his pro-Russian views. He has criticized Romania’s membership in NATO, called Vladimir Putin a “real world leader” and called for an end to support for Ukraine.
The success of the campaign has caused serious concern in the EU. The European Parliament is demanding explanations from TikTok’s management, and the Romanian regulator is proposing to temporarily block the platform. The country’s Constitutional Court initiated a full recount.
“Romania is a wake-up call. Radicalization and disinformation can happen all over Europe with harmful consequences,” said Valerie Heyer, Chair of the Liberal Group Renew Europe in the European Parliament.
The second round of elections is scheduled for December 8. Experts warn that the successful experience of using TikTok for political influence could be repeated in other countries in the region, especially where there is a significant pro-Russian audience.
Romania shares a 400-mile border with Ukraine and plays a key strategic role, hosting a NATO military base and providing an important transit route for Ukrainian exports.
Leave a Reply