TikTok influencers flee Romania amid tax probe into their election role – POLITICO

TikTok influencers flee Romania amid tax probe into their election role – POLITICO

“This investigation will also assess any causal links between those payments and a particular candidate in the Romanian presidential election,” said Toni Greblă, the head of the electoral office, about the tax probes. One key figure under investigation is Bogdan Peșchir, who allegedly funded the influencers on TikTok with €1 million. Last week, authorities raided … Read more

What the hell is going on? – POLITICO

What the hell is going on? – POLITICO

President Iohannis received evidence from the secret intelligence services indicating that both state and non-state actors had interfered in the election, and naming Russia as responsible for a series of aggressive hybrid attacks. The U.S. endorsed the findings of Russian involvement. Acting on the intelligence, Iohannis declassified secret files that alleged Georgescu had unlawfully benefited from … Read more

Romanian court cancels presidential election amid Russian influence fears – POLITICO

Romanian court cancels presidential election amid Russian influence fears – POLITICO

“Today is the moment when the Romanian state trampled over democracy. God, the Romanian people, the truth and the law will prevail and will punish those who are guilty of destroying our democracy,” she said immediately after the annulment. Nicolae Ciucă, the head of the Romanian senate and the National Liberal Party’s presidential candidate in … Read more

Romanian pro-EU parties unite to crowd out far-right candidate Georgescu – POLITICO

Romanian pro-EU parties unite to crowd out far-right candidate Georgescu – POLITICO

The coalition means that the four parties, and the ethnic minority representatives, will together hold a majority in parliament and will be able to push for a prime minister from among their ranks. There will still be further talks about what the parliamentary coalition’s governance aims will be, and who will be prime minister, though … Read more

Dutch PM Mark Rutte set to be next NATO leader

Dutch PM Mark Rutte set to be next NATO leader

Netherland’s Prime Minister Mark Rutte arrives to attend the European Political Community summit at the Palacio de Congreso in Granada, southern Spain on October 5, 2023. Jorge Guerrero | Afp | Getty Images Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday rescinded his bid for the leadership of the NATO military alliance and threw his support behind … Read more

Romania’s president launches bid for NATO top job against Mark Rutte – POLITICO

Romania’s president launches bid for NATO top job against Mark Rutte – POLITICO

“Russia will remain the most significant and direct threat to the Alliance for the foreseeable future,” he wrote. Iohannis would be the first NATO chief from a country that was once in the Soviet bloc, but he faces an uphill struggle to edge out Rutte. The U.S., Britain, France and Germany — the four biggest … Read more

Romania president seeks to challenge Rutte for top job – POLITICO

Romania president seeks to challenge Rutte for top job – POLITICO

Saying that they don’t mean to stand in the way of Rutte, a senior Eastern European diplomat said: “At least somebody has to ask, ‘OK, Mark, how are you going to deal with Russia?’” They also cite Rutte’s repeated failure to bring Dutch defense spending up to the target of 2 percent of GDP agreed … Read more