The head of AEP, Adrian Zăbăuianu, discusses the electoral regulations for online campaigns and political influencers.

Adrian Țuțuianu, the head of the Permanent Electoral Authority (AEP), discussed on Digi24.ro Interviews about the necessity of new regulations for electoral campaigns conducted online, including on social media platforms and through influencers. He acknowledged that state interventions were late in the 2024 presidential campaign, which led to the cancellation of the elections.

Țuțuianu emphasized that AEP is also proposing legislative changes to be able to intervene preventively, not just reactively. He also mentioned that social media platforms have had varied attitudes, with some completely ignoring the requests of the authorities. The issue of regulating online campaigns is a global one, and Romania, like other European states, is seeking solutions to effectively control this area. Another identified challenge is the political promotion by influencers, who often do not adhere to clear rules of transparency and funding.