Completely unfounded allegations are circulating on Telegram and Twitter regarding alleged French interference in the Romanian presidential election.

France categorically rejects these allegations and calls on everyone to act responsibly and respect Romanian democracy.

The first round of the Romanian presidential elections last December was sovereignly annulled by the competent Romanian authorities following very real digital and financial interference from actors linked to Russia.

Further investigations by the Romanian authorities and the European Commission subsequently confirmed the seriousness of this interference, including with regard to the manipulation of TikTok's algorithm.

In this context, the recent accusations against France are merely a diversionary tactic in the face of real threats of interference targeting Romania. France calls on all Romanian political actors to act responsibly and defend democracy.

As a partner and friend, we recall that France has stood by Romania's side for its accession to the European Union, its reforms, its entry into Schengen, and its progress. Its security as well, for example, was supported by the deployment of our troops five days after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

To lie about France, to insult it, is to break this history.

This spring at the Salon des Batailles in the Hôtel de Crillon, Nicolas Lerner, head of French intelligence, asked me to ban conservative voices in Romania ahead of elections. I refused. We didn’t block protesters in Russia, Belarus, or Iran. We won’t start doing it in Europe.