Romania’s hard-right politician, Călin Georgescu, has been barred from running in the upcoming presidential elections in May, election authorities announced on Sunday.
According to a statement issued late Sunday, the Central Election Bureau voted 10-4 to disqualify Georgescu from participating in the presidential rerun. The bureau cited his failure to uphold democratic principles and ensure free and fair elections.
Georgescu had unexpectedly won the first round of presidential elections last year, but the vote was annulled following reports of alleged Russian interference. Moscow has denied any involvement.
This decision marks a significant setback for nationalist parties in Romania, who have gained considerable momentum in recent months and now hold about one-third of the seats in Parliament following the parliamentary elections.
Supporters of Georgescu, who had gathered outside the election office in anticipation of the decision, reacted with fury. Some broke through police barriers, and others scaled the walls of the building. Media reports say protesters threw stones and chunks of pavement at the police, who responded with tear gas.
Anamaria Gavrilă, a political ally of Georgescu, decried the decision, calling it “a dictatorship.”
Earlier reports suggested that the disqualification stemmed from discrepancies in Georgescu’s financial declarations.
Georgescu responded to the ruling by describing it as “a direct blow to the heart of democracy worldwide.”
Despite skepticism over his eligibility to run, Georgescu remained a frontrunner in the race. His supporters argued that the decision was unfair, particularly given the cancellation of the election just two days before the December 8 runoff, which followed revelations of Russian interference.
Last month, Georgescu faced charges on six counts, including undermining Romania’s constitutional order, establishing a fascist organization, and providing false information about his campaign’s funding. As part of legal measures, he has been banned from leaving the country, carrying firearms, or posting xenophobic or antisemitic content on social media.
When he filed his candidacy last Friday, hundreds of supporters rallied with Romanian flags, chanting: “Last resort, another revolution!”
In addition to Georgescu, the Central Election Bureau also disqualified two other candidates, Ion Popa and Maria Marcu, from the election.
The deadline for candidacy submissions is March 15, with the official election campaign set to begin on April 4. The first round of voting is scheduled for May 4, followed by a May 18 runoff.