News brief

Romanians protest presidential election cancellation. Thousands of Romanians rallied outside the country’s top court on Jan. 10 to protest against the December cancellation of the presidential election in which a little-known pro-Russian candidate won the first round. Although small, protests have continued since Dec. 6, when the Constitutional Court voided the election two days before the second round. The move came after state documents showed frontrunner Calin Georgescu had benefitted from an unfair social media campaign likely orchestrated by Russia. Moscow denied any interference. Hard right and ultranationalist parties hold over a third of Romania’s parliamentary seats.