Romania's Central Electoral Bureau has barred far-right candidate Calin Georgescu from participating in the upcoming presidential election rerun, leading to significant protests and confrontations with police in Bucharest.
Far-Right Presidential Candidate in Romania Faces Disqualification and Protests
Far-Right Presidential Candidate in Romania Faces Disqualification and Protests
Calin Georgescu's exclusion from May's election rerun incites clashes as tensions rise in Romania.
Romanian far-right populist Calin Georgescu has found himself barred from contesting in the presidential election rerun set for May, as confirmed by the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC). This decision has triggered violent clashes between police and Georgescu's supporters, as tensions reach a boiling point following a controversial past election cycle.
Last year, the Romanian constitutional court voided the first round of voting held in November, which Georgescu won. The annulment came after intelligence findings indicated that Russian-backed TikTok accounts had significantly promoted his candidacy, raising red flags about foreign interference.
On Sunday, the BEC stated that Georgescu does not fulfill the legal conditions to run, citing his failure to uphold democratic values. The candidate has described this decision as a "direct blow" to democracy, and he now has 24 hours to appeal the ruling in Romania's top court, which is expected to issue a decision within the next 72 hours.
Following the BEC's announcement, protests erupted in Bucharest, where supporters of Georgescu clashed with riot police. Authorities deployed tear gas to disperse crowds that gathered outside the BEC offices, with reports of vandalism, including overturned cars and smashed windows. Several people were reportedly detained as tensions heightened amid the clashes.
Back in February, Georgescu experienced a setback when he was arrested while attempting to register for the presidential race, leading to one of the largest protests in recent Romanian history, with tens of thousands taking to the streets in response to his detention. He is currently facing serious allegations of attempting to undermine Romania's constitutional order and affiliations with neo-fascist organizations, which he vehemently denies.
Despite this turmoil, Georgescu's rise has been notable, emphasizing a campaign focused on "restoring Romania's dignity" and reducing alignment with international organizations such as NATO and the EU. Notably, there has been some expression of support from figures associated with the Trump administration, and U.S. Vice-President JD Vance has criticized the annulment of the elections, questioning the legitimacy of the imposed sanctions.
In the midst of these electoral scuffles, Romanian Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu has taken aim at Elon Musk, accusing the billionaire of interfering in Romania's elections through his supportive social media comments toward Georgescu. As the nation's political landscape continues to shift, the future of Romania's democracy hangs in a precarious balance.
