TikTok Influencers at the Center of Romania's Electoral Controversy

Sun Oct 19 2025 08:15:14 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The recent re-election in Romania unveils a scandal surrounding TikTok influencers allegedly linked to Russian interference and manipulation of election outcomes.

Romania's political landscape faces turmoil as TikTok influencers are accused of participating in campaigns that artificially boosted far-right candidate Calin Georgescu's profile. His surprising rise to prominence led to allegations of Russian interference, despite a lack of concrete evidence from authorities. The scandals surrounding social media engagement raise significant concerns over transparency in the electoral process.

Romanians find themselves heading to the polls again this weekend amidst a political uproar caused by the controversial cancellation of last December's presidential elections. The initial victory of far-right candidate Calin Georgescu has been annulled over allegations of Russian meddling, questionable TikTok activity, and illicit payments to influencers. The Kremlin has refuted these claims.

Georgescu, recently detained and barred from future candidacy, stands accused of trying to destabilize the nation. He refutes the allegations, asserting that authorities fabricated evidence to cover up the theft of the election. The leader of Romania's far-right AUR party, George Simion, currently leads in the polls for the re-run, followed by Crin Antonescu from the National Liberal Party and independent candidate Nicușor Dan.

The controversy has spotlighted TikTok influencers who allegedly contributed to fictitious social media campaigns that sought to elevate Georgescu's public profile. Authorities believe that Georgescu's dramatic rise from 3-5% in pre-election polls to capturing 23% of the vote was engineered through TikTok. Reports indicated that over 100 hired influencers and thousands of inauthentic accounts manipulated TikTok's algorithm to boost his visibility, paralleling strategies previously employed in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.

Shortly preceding the election, a viral trend utilizing the hashtag "stability and integrity" flooded TikTok, with influencers urging viewers to consider qualities desirable in a president without mentioning a candidate. However, many influencers were unaware of where the funding originated from. Media platform FameUp, used to coordinate influencer marketing, declined to comment.

Influencers reported a surge of supportive comments for Georgescu beneath their posts, highlighting a coordinated effort to manipulate TikTok's platform for political gain. A spokesperson from TikTok noted the removal of fake engagement attempts and several deceptive networks aimed at influencing Romanian elections. However, significant questions remain about the origins and accountability of these operations.

Further complicating matters, the Romanian tax authority disclosed that the "stability and integrity" campaign was financed by the National Liberal Party (PNL), who claimed they were sabotaged in support of Georgescu. This revelation sparked outrage among the public.

Adding to the controversy, the well-known TikTok influencer, Bogdan Peschir—dubbed the "King of TikTok"—was arrested for allegedly corrupting voters through financial incentives. Lawyers for Peschir asserted his payments were not linked to elections, while some influencers admitted to receiving funds from him without campaigning for Georgescu, even though their posts faced a barrage of pro-Georgescu comments.

As investigations continue into the complicated tangle of alleged foreign interference and potential electoral fraud, many Romanians express frustration at the lack of verifiable evidence illustrating Russia's involvement. The quest for clarity in this evolving situation remains arduous, with potential implications for future electoral integrity in Romania and beyond.