French President Emmanuel Macron recently stated that Russia played a significant role in manipulating the elections in Romania, which led to the cancellation of last year`s presidential vote – a move he said didn`t particularly surprise him.
Macron shared there views during a social media session focused on the ongoing situation in Ukraine. Over the course of an hour, he addressed various questions, particularly emphasizing France`s stance, the actions of the EU and NATO, and the need for global unity amidst rising geopolitical tensions.
He also touched on the issue of algorithmic manipulation designed to sway voters. When asked about Romania`s cancelled elections, Macron described the decision as unprecedented and deeply unsettling for the country. He noted the troubling finding of Romania`s Supreme Court, which revealed that Russia had extensively intervened through proxies, intermediaries, and fake online personas to influence the outcome. By manipulating social media platforms, Russia not only shaped voter sentiment but also paid for votes, thereby undermining the integrity of the election process.
As a result, Macron concluded that the election could no longer be considered legitimate. He warned that democracies are particularly vulnerable in an era where people heavily rely on social media for their information. He also mentioned that US Vice President JD Vance had condemned Romania`s cancellation of the elections.
Macron stressed the importance of discerning the narrative surrounding freedom of expression. Referring to his conversation with Vice President Vance in Paris, he stated that while Vance had expressed shock over the decision, he himself was not surprised. What concerned him more, he said, was Russia`s intervention in questioning Romania`s actions.
Looking ahead, Macron is scheduled to meet with US Presindent Donald Trump. During their talks, he plans to emphasize that it`s crucial not to show any weakness in front of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Macron has consistently labelled Russia as a major threat to Europe, particularly if Russia gains control over Ukraine`s military assets and the equipment sent to support its defence. He also defended Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky, following Trump`s recent controversial remarks on social media, where he called Zelensky “a dictator“.
