When: 11 March 2025, 09:00 – 12 March 2025, 13:30
Where: Bucharest, Romania
Organized by: the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in cooperation with Expert Forum
The 2024 elections and the annulment of the presidential election were landmark events in Romania’s political history. The unprecedented decision, driven by allegations of foreign and hybrid interference primarily through social networks – TikTok, in particular – and irregularities in campaigning, has underscored critical challenges to electoral integrity, oversight and enforcement. For example, foreign and domestic actors reportedly exploited algorithms to amplify disinformation, significantly undermining trust in democratic processes.
This workshop aims to transform a moment of crisis into an opportunity for learning, collaboration and reform. It seeks to ensure that electoral processes in the Western Balkans are transparent, efficient and resilient. Key focus areas include social networks, (online) campaigning and its financing, and media-related challenges.
Participants will include
- Experts and institutions relevant to electoral management, (online) campaign finance, social networks and media regulation
- Local representatives from civil society and citizen observer organizations
- Local media specializing in election reporting;
- Local academics focusing on political science and democratic governance
- International practitioners
Participation is by invitation only.
Contact
For further information, please contact the Support to Electoral Reforms in the Western Balkans project team at wb-project@odihr.pl.