The Romanian Constitutional Court’s decision to annul the presidential elections hides a disturbing reality: yet another attempt by Russia to sabotage and infiltrate European democracy. This time, however, the attempt was so blatant and destabilising that it forced an entire nation to reset its democratic process.

Can we really consider this just a hostile act? Or are we facing a real declaration of war in disguise?

Attack on democracy: Moscow’s long shadow

For us at L’Europeista, the second hypothesis is true:Europe is under a deliberate and planned attack by Vladimir Putin’s dictatorial regime, and Romania is just the latest victim of a cynically and precisely orchestrated strategy. Recently declassified documents speak volumes: ‘aggressive hybrid attacks’, social media interference, covert support for extremist candidates. Everything points to a single direction, the instigator sitting in the Kremlin.

Russia has now perfected the art of unconventional warfare. It no longer needs border armies or military invasions: today it fights with fake news, bots, and mass psychological manipulation. The result? Fake elections, polarised societies, delegitimised institutions. In short, chaos. And this time it was the turn of Romania, the beating heart of Eastern Europe, to become the Kremlin’s favourite playground.

Because this is a low blow for the whole of Europe

It is not only Romania that has been hit. The entire European project is under attack. When a member country suffers an aggression of this magnitude, it is the entire European Union that is challenged. Democracy, our most precious asset, cannot be treated as an option: it is the glue that holds us together. Allowing an external actor to manipulate it is tantamount to letting a breach open in the wall of our civilisation.

And therein lies the real danger: today it is Romania, tomorrow it could be any other European country. Or worse,Europe as a whole. The question we must ask ourselves is: how much are we prepared to tolerate before reacting?

Time to react: the EU must show its teeth

It is no longer time for diplomatic declarations and timid appeals for calm. The stakes are too high. In the face of such blatant aggression,Europe must respond with firmness and cohesion. Every minute lost strengthens our enemies. That is what is needed now:

1. A common front: We cannot let each country defend itself alone. Democratic security must become a common priority, with close coordination between all member states.
2. Advanced technologies against cyber-crime: Digital attacks require digital responses. We need massive investment in cybersecurity and a European task force to monitor and neutralise threats in real time.
3. Exemplary sanctions: Russia must pay a high price for its interference. Not only with economic sanctions, but with a clear exclusion from international tables of every order and degree. There can be no dialogue – certainly not by Europeans, but not by our global partners either – with those who undermine the foundations of democratic society.
4. A More Aware Europe: Disinformation thrives where inattention reigns. Citizens must be enabled to recognise and reject propaganda, starting with comprehensivemedia education.

A war without weapons, but with devastating objectives

Let us have no illusions: what happened in Romania is not an isolated case. It is part of a precise strategy to weakenEurope from within, without firing a shot. But that does not make it any less dangerous. On the contrary, it is even more devious, because it attacks people’s minds and hearts, exploiting our divisions and weaknesses.

If we do not react now, when? Democracy is under siege, and we cannot wait until the next victim is one of theEU giants, or even the entire European electoral system.

Democracy does not surrender

Romania, with its courageous decision to cancel the elections, sends us a strong message: democracy is not perfect, but it is willing to fight for its survival through the resistance of women and men who know how to take responsibility. Today, this proof of responsibility and resistance came from the Supreme Court in Bucharest. But it is not enough: it is now up to us, as European citizens, to take up this challenge. We cannot allow outside powers to decide our future.

Because freedom is our most precious heritage. And it won’t be Moscow, or its prettified puppets roaming around, that will take it away from us.