Fact Check: Did a Romanian Village Really Elect a Cat as Mayor? Here is what we found.
A bizarre claim has been spreading like wildfire across social media, alleging that the small Romanian village of Satu Nou elected a stray tabby cat named "Misu" as its mayor after a frustrating local election cycle. Users are sharing photos of a cat in a miniature suit with a caption saying Misu won with 87% of the vote after the human candidates were disqualified for corruption.
The Truth: This story is mostly fabricated. While the village of Satu Nou did experience a chaotic election resulting in a historic lack of valid human candidates, no feline has ever been sworn into office. The viral image of "Misu" is a highly-edited photo of a Romanian local politician, digitally manipulated by a satirical Facebook page. The Romanian Election Authority confirmed that the position remains vacant. However, the viral prank has actually sparked a real tourism boom, with thousands of travelers flocking to the village hoping to snap a selfie with a cat they believe is the "mayor." So, while the news is fake, the economic impact on the real Romania village is very real.