Romania accuses "Israeli" minister of election meddling

Romania raised serious allegations against a member of "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet, claiming interference in its electoral process, Middle East Monitor reported.

The controversy centers around a phone call made by "Israel’s" Minister for Diaspora Affairs, Amichai Chikli, to a far-right extremist presidential candidate, Călin Georgescu, who has been criticized for his pro-Nazi views.

Romanian officials assert that Chikli's conversation with Georgescu, which occurred last week, constitutes an undue influence on the country’s electoral affairs.

Georgescu, known for his admiration of historical figures who collaborated with the Nazis, sparked outrage for his far-right rhetoric and previous praise for the Iron Guard, a group notorious for its anti-Semitic violence during World War II.

The content of the call was reportedly disseminated widely through far-right media channels, both within Romania and internationally, raising concerns about the implications of foreign political involvement in domestic elections.

The accusations come on the heels of Romania's parliamentary elections, which took place yesterday, just a week after Georgescu's surprising advancement in the presidential election’s first round. His unexpected success has sent shockwaves through the political landscape in Romania, igniting debates about nationalism and historical memory.

Polling stations across Romania opened their doors to millions of voters eager to participate in this significant electoral event, with citizens tasked with selecting representatives for the 466-seat parliament.

Voting commenced for Romanian expatriates on Saturday, and as of 11:00 AM. local time yesterday, approximately 2.2 million ballots had been cast, accounting for about 12.5 percent of eligible voters, according to the country’s election authority.