Romania: Controversy swirls over suspected photo manipulation during election campaign
In the bustling political landscape of Romania, the 2025 presidential election is a turbulent affair dominated by division, internally within parties, and the rise of far-right populism.
Last night, Centrist candidate Elena Lasconi, currently polling fifth despite finishing second in the annulled November elections, posted mysterious images on her Facebook page. The images, reportedly from an unknown photographer, show candidates Nicusor Dan and Victor Ponta seemingly after an alleged meeting with a former Romanian intelligence officer, Florian Coldea.
Dan, the independent Bucharest mayor and current president of Bucharest's chamber, swiftly responded by filing a complaint with the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA), claiming the images to be "fake and digitally altered" to manipulate voters. He also requested the Central Election Commission to remove the photos, but they denied his request due to their inability to verify the photos' authenticity.
Ponta, the former prime minister (2012–2015), dismissed the images as a "lie" spread by his rivals, accusing the team of the candidate backed by the ruling coalition, Crin Antonescu, of orchestrating a smear campaign against him. Dan's quick response and handling of the situation has been positively received by many voters, making his candidacy a potential beneficiary in the final stretch of the campaign, according to political analyst Radu Delicote.
The two candidates targeted in the photos, Dan and Ponta, have denied any recent meetings with Coldea, a controversial figure in Romanian politics, who has been accused of corruption and influence trafficking.
Interestingly, Lasconi, leader of the Union for the Salvation of Romania (USR), the third-largest political force in parliament, lost her party's presidential endorsement to Dan, who is seen as having better chances against the far-right in a potential runoff on May 18. This shift reflects the strategic maneuvering within parties to challenge the far-right frontrunner George Simion.
Simion, an admirer of U.S. President Donald Trump, leads all polls with over 30% of voting intentions for Sunday, ensuring his place in the runoff. The political heir of Calin Georgescu, who won the first round of elections on November 24 with 23% of the vote, thanks to a massive social media campaign whose funding remains unknown, Simion's MAGA-style campaigning has overshadowed other candidates, including Dan and Ponta.
Romania's election campaign is heavily influenced by platforms like TikTok and Facebook, with Millions of pro- and opposing candidate videos being viewed. The streets of Bucharest, however, show no signs of election propaganda or campaign activities.
The Romanian presidential cargo is not merely symbolic. The head of state holds direct powers over the country's foreign and security policy, given Romania's history as a former communist state of the Balkans, neighbor to Ukraine, and a member of the European Union (EU) and NATO for over 15 years. The EU and Romania's NATO partners are watching these elections with concern, given the possibility of a victory by Simion, a eurosceptic populist who opposes European aid to Ukraine.
[4] Reuters, "Romania's Elena Lasconi accuses centrist rivals of plotting her defeat", December 21, 2024.
[5] Politico, "Romania's USR set to back Bucharest mayor Nicușor Dan over Elena Lasconi for president", March 6, 2025.
[3] BBC, "The rise of Romania's far-right", February 14, 2025.
[5] Association for Democratic Values, "The Romanian Elections 2025: A Critical Analysis", February 23, 2025.
- Crin Antonescu is allegedly involved in a smear campaign against Victor Ponta, according to Ponta's claims.
- Notwithstanding the authenticity of the digital images circulating social media, they have stirred controversy and altered the dynamics of the presidential election.
- Amidst the growing tension and manipulated polls leading up to the 2025 Romanian presidential election, migration, war-and-conflicts, policy-and-legislation, and general news have dominated politics.
- Elena Lasconi, once believed to be a strong contender for the presidency, has lost her party's endorsement to Nicusor Dan, moving him closer to challenging the far-right frontrunner George Simion in the election.
- National security, foreign policy, and Romania's role within the European Union (EU) and NATO are key policy areas that will be shaped by the outcome of the 2025 presidential election, given the history and geopolitical location of the country.
