"BUCHAREST, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Romanians angered by the cancellation of a presidential election marched through Bucharest on Sunday to demand that the ballot should go ahead and that outgoing centrist President Klaus Iohannis should resign.
In a move that polarised voters, Romania's top court annulled the presidential election on Dec. 6, two days before the second round.
The cancellation came after state documents revealed that the frontrunner, a critic of NATO, had benefited from an unfair social media campaign likely orchestrated by Russia, accusations that Moscow has denied.
The court ordered a complete rerun of the election. The pro-European coalition government has yet to set a schedule for the election, although party leaders are proposing to hold the two rounds on May 4 and May 18.
Iohannis, whose term ended on Dec. 21, will remain in office until his successor is elected.
On Sunday, tens of thousands of protesters, including left-wingers and those upset by the cancellation of the election, participated in the rally organized by the opposition hard-right Alliance for Uniting Romanians (AUR), Romania's second-largest party.
"We ask for a return to democracy by resuming the election with the second round," AUR leader George Simion told reporters.
Organizers claimed that 100,000 people attended the protest, but riot police estimated around 20,000 participants along the march. Protesters brandished flags and chanted "Freedom" and "Bring back the second round."
"Our right to vote was violated," said Bogdan Danila, a 43-year-old truck driver. "Moreover, Iohannis was in power for a decade and did nothing for the people, while the parties betrayed us; they are all corrupt. We want something different."
Some demonstrators carried portraits of Georgescu or Christian Orthodox icons, while street vendors sold flags and vuvuzelas.
"Authorities need to explain why the election was canceled; we want to see the proof," said Cornelia, 57, an economist draped in a Romanian flag who preferred not to share her last name.
"At this rate, we won't be voting anymore; they will impose a leader like in the past."
It remains uncertain whether Georgescu, who opposes Romanian support for Ukraine against Russia’s invasion, will be permitted to run for president again."