"I officially ask the Constitutional Court to annul the Romanian presidential elections for the same reasons the December elections were annulled: external interferences by state and non-state actors,

Right-wing tech moguls who are part of Donald Trump’s White House are casting doubt on democracy in Romania, at odds with the top U.S. diplomat in the country.

Defeating populists never signals an easy return to the status quo ante.

Mr Simion had been the favourite to win but lost to pro-EU candidate Nicusor Dan in the final vote over the weekend.

Romania’s assets staged a relief rally after a centrist candidate defeated his nationalist opponent in the presidential election, with investor focus now shifting to how quickly a new government can fix the state’s finances.

But Romania's growth has steadily slowed since a post-pandemic bounce in 2021, and the European Commission forecasts its budget deficit at 8.6% this year and 8.4% in 2026, well above the government's 7% 2025 target outlined in a seven-year EU-approved plan.