**EU and Romania to Hold Summit with TikTok Amid Election Controversy**

The European Commission is set to convene a critical summit with Romanian authorities and TikTok representatives, following threats from Bucharest to suspend the Chinese-owned social media platform. This unprecedented move comes in the wake of a surprising first-round presidential election result in Romania, where ultranationalist, pro-Russian candidate Călin Georgescu clinched a victory, significantly buoyed by his popularity on TikTok.

Romanian officials are demanding an investigation into TikTok's handling of political content. Pavel Popescu, the vice president of the National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM), announced Wednesday that he would initiate proceedings to block TikTok in Romania. Popescu asserts that the suspension, set to begin on November 28, 2024, will remain until an investigation regarding potential election interference is concluded. He made this declaration on Facebook before his account was deactivated later that day.

In response, TikTok has refuted any accusations that it influenced the Romanian election. In a letter reviewed by POLITICO, the platform claimed it had found no evidence of covert influence operations or foreign interference in the recent electoral activities. TikTok also reported the removal of over 150 fake accounts linked to Georgescu and more than 650 accounts associated with other candidates.

The European Commission has acknowledged receiving Romania's request for a formal investigation under the Digital Services Act, a move confirmed by spokesperson Thomas Regnier. A critical discussion involving Commission officials, Romanian authorities, and TikTok representatives is expected to take place before the presidential runoff election on December 8.

Popescu has accused thousands of TikTok accounts, allegedly sponsored by entities outside Romania, of amplifying Georgescu's campaign. He emphasized that the platform had disregarded ANCOM's concerns prior to the vote and had failed to communicate effectively with Romanian state institutions.

TikTok, however, maintains its stance, with spokesperson Paolo Ganino labeling reports about the platform’s role in the Romanian elections as "inaccurate and misleading." As the December 8 runoff approaches, the outcome could have significant implications for the EU, with Georgescu set to face off against reformist candidate Elena Lasconi.