Romanian Far-Right Candidate Barred from Presidential Election Rerun
Romania’s Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) has disqualified far-right populist Calin Georgescu from May’s presidential election rerun, sparking violent clashes between his supporters and police.
Romania’s top electoral authority has ruled that far-right candidate Calin Georgescu is ineligible to run in the upcoming presidential election rerun, citing legal violations and concerns over democratic integrity. The decision has reignited political tensions, leading to violent protests in the capital, Bucharest.
The Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) announced on Sunday that Georgescu’s candidacy “does not meet the conditions of legality” and accused him of “violating the fundamental duty to uphold democracy.” The ruling follows last year’s annulment of the original election results, where Georgescu won the first round but was later implicated in a Russian-backed disinformation campaign on TikTok.
Romania’s constitutional court voided the November vote after intelligence reports uncovered evidence of Kremlin-linked interference through 800 TikTok accounts promoting Georgescu’s campaign.
Denouncing the BEC’s decision as a “direct blow” to democracy, Georgescu vowed to challenge the ruling. He has 24 hours to appeal to the constitutional court, which is expected to issue a final verdict within 72 hours. On social media, he claimed the ban was an attack on democracy “not just in Romania, but worldwide.”
Violent Clashes in Bucharest
Tensions escalated on Sunday night as thousands of Georgescu’s supporters gathered outside the BEC’s headquarters in Bucharest. Protesters clashed with riot police, who deployed tear gas in an attempt to disperse the crowd. The BBC witnessed overturned cars and shattered windows in nearby bars. Authorities confirmed that at least four people were detained.
While many demonstrators eventually dispersed, several hundred remained, engaging in further confrontations with law enforcement. Reinforcements were called in as authorities worked to regain control of the area.
Controversial Figure with Growing Support
Georgescu, a 62-year-old independent candidate, emerged as a political outsider and unexpectedly won the first round of last year’s presidential election. His campaign centered on promises to “restore Romania’s dignity” and reduce the country’s dependence on NATO and the European Union.
His pro-Russian stance has drawn international scrutiny. Before the election’s annulment, Georgescu told the BBC he would cut all support for Ukraine if elected.
His arrest on February 26, while en route to register for this summer’s election, triggered mass protests across Romania. He faces charges of attempting to overthrow the constitutional order and alleged ties to a neo-fascist organization—allegations he denies.
International Reactions
The controversy surrounding Georgescu’s candidacy has drawn reactions from global political figures. Last month, U.S. Vice President JD Vance criticized Romania’s decision to annul the election, calling the intelligence reports on Russian interference “flimsy suspicions.”
Meanwhile, Romanian Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu accused Elon Musk of meddling in the country’s election after the billionaire publicly expressed support for Georgescu on social media.
As the legal battle over Georgescu’s candidacy unfolds, Romania faces mounting political instability, with tensions between nationalist movements and pro-European factions continuing to rise.
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