A Case Study of the 2024/2025 Romanian Presidential Election 

What happens when the clear frontrunner in a presidential election is prevented from running when the election is abruptly cancelled just days before the second round of the vote?

This isn’t a scene from a political thriller. It’s the reality unfolding in Romania, a member of the European Union (EU). The 2024/25 Romanian presidential election presents a sobering case study that raises questions not only for Romania’s democratic health but also about some broader, troubling trends affecting the state of democracy across the EU.  While European nations continue to promote democratic values abroad, events like these raise serious concerns about the democratic integrity at home. Let’s look into it.