Foresight
News
Between Trump and a Hard Place. Europe Balances Sanctions and Top Chinese Envoy
15 September 2025
Romania’s Constitutional Court has annulled the presidential election process, citing intelligence reports that nationalist candidate Călin Georgescu benefited from a Kremlin-driven TikTok influence campaign.
This is not the first time this has happened in Central Europe. In 2016, presidential elections were rerun in Austria after Alexander Van der Bellen narrowly defeated far-right candidate Norbert Hofer.
However, Georgescu was expected to win a run-off against liberal leader Elena Lasconi. The court decision eases fears about the future of a key NATO member (with the largest NATO base in Europe) and gives mainstream parties in Romania a second chance – after a hugely disappointing first round.
It’s democracy, stupid. The weakness of Romanian democratic institutions is more to blame than foreign interference, as we assert in the recent ‘Shielding European Democracy’ report. Listen to Alina Inayeh, our fellow, who speaks about this on our podcast.
Subscribe
Democratic security comes at a price. What is yours? By subscribing or donating now gain access to analysis, forecasts and scenarios by leading analysts and reporters who monitor democratic risks and develop policy debate from Central Europe on Central Europe.
MonthlyVAT included
See all details
- Full access to articles and all reports in PDF
- Weekly outlook on democratic security in CEE delivered by e-mail
- Weekly newsletter with essential highlights
- Invitations to all Visegrad Insight events online and offline
AnnualVAT included
See all details
- Individual subscribers only. Check our CORPORATE OFFER below
- 15% Discount (8 EUR off monthly cost if paid annually)
- Full access to articles and all reports in PDF
- Weekly outlook on democratic security in CEE delivered by e-mail
- Weekly newsletter with essential highlights
- Invitations to all Visegrad Insight events online and offline
Student OR Donation
See all details
- Full access to articles and all reports in PDF
- Weekly newsletter with essential highlights
- Some Visegrad Insight events invitations
I am a representative of an institution/business. Is there a corporate offer?
The annual subscription for up to ten institutional users: EUR 999
GO TO CHECKOUT
For a tailor-made offer email us: contact@visegradinsight.eu
- Access to all articles for your team
- Access to all Reports for your team
- Every Monday a Weekly Outlook with an update on key developments in Central Europe delivered by e-mail
- Every Thursday a newsletter with the most important highlights and invitations
- Personal invitations to Visegrad Insight Events
- Foresight, policy, and risk analysis reports (on-demand)
Intelligence prepared by a group of Visegrad Insight Fellows from all across
Can I receive an invoice?
Yes. You will receive a receipt immediately after purchase and a VAT invoice upon request. The subscription amount includes tax. In case of a donation, there is no tax.
Are my credit card details safe?
Yes. The payment is processed by STRIPE www.stripe.com entrusted also by Amazon, Zoom, Booking.com and used by other global NGOs and businesses in the world. We do not store your credit card details.
How modify or cancel my subscription?
At any moment you can manage your subscription and account details. Sign in to modify or cancel.
