Marta Cartabia, President of the Venice Commission, says that the annulment of the elections in Romania was an experience for Europe

Venice Commission President Marta Cartabia said that the annulment of Romania’s elections was a trauma for the country, but also a relevant experience for Europe, as it exposed threats to the electoral process. She made the statement during the “Rule of Law Forum” debate.

Cartabia said that, in Romania, there was a real risk to voters’ freedom of choice, and that the situation came as a shock to public opinion. According to her, the events demonstrated that such threats can occur anywhere.

Asked how trust in state institutions could be rebuilt, the Venice Commission president said that this process could not be achieved overnight. She stressed that authorities must publicly explain the reasons for their decisions and remain open.

In her opening speech, Cartabia warned that Europe is facing a difficult moment for democracy and is at a “cultural crossroads”. She drew attention to the rise of populist parties and the influence of social media, which, she said, can affect elections and trust in their integrity.

President Nicușor Dan said at the same event that social media enable the rapid and inexpensive mobilization of numerous voices to drown out legitimate opinions, posing a challenge to the principle of “one person, one voice, one vote”.