A choice surrounded by a lot of false information. Quai d’Orsay warned this Sunday, May 18 against “completely unfounded accusations” that circulate in “Telegram and Twitter” about an “supposed interference of France in the Romanian presidential elections.”
The second round of the Romanian presidential elections, which takes place this Sunday, is closely analyzed in Europe. After the exclusion of populist candidate pro-ruso Călin Georgescu last March, he is now the extreme right-wing candidate George Simion, who is a favorite.
In X, French diplomacy has transmitted a message from the Telegram Pavel Durov chief accusing France of having pressed the Romanian public debate, except for screen capture of a “false” label.
“Silence conservative voices”
“A Government of Western Europe (guess which one) contacted Telegram to ask him to silence the conservative votes in Romania before today’s presidential elections. I rejected myself categorically. Telegram will not restore the freedoms of Romanian users,” said the Russian businessman in his own channel, joining his message as “Vita” associated with France.
“France categorically rejects these accusations and everyone requested responsibility and respect for Romanian democracy,” replied Quai d’Orsay, without citing Pavel Durov by his name.
“The recent accusations against France are just a fun maneuver against real interference threats that point to Romania. France calls all Romanian political actors to the responsibility and defense of democracy,” continues the account of French diplomacy.
Paris recalls this time that “the first round of the Romanian presidential elections last December was canceled sovereign by the competent Romanian authorities that followed a very real digital and financial interference by the actors linked to Russia.”
In 2024, Pavel Durov had been put into police custody and then accused in France for a series of crimes related to organized crime, justice accused him of not acting against the dissemination of criminal content in messaging. Released with strong judicial control that prevents him from leaving the French territory, announced that last March he was “back in Dubai.”
Source: BFM TV
