Calin Georgescu, a far-right candidate, has been prohibited from the upcoming presidential rerun due to legal violations involving foreign influence. His exclusion has led to protests and confrontations in Bucharest.
Romanian Presidential Rivals Clash as Far-Right Candidate Excluded from Election Rerun
Romanian Presidential Rivals Clash as Far-Right Candidate Excluded from Election Rerun
Tensions escalate in Romania as far-right leader Calin Georgescu is barred from the presidential election rerun, resulting in clashes between supporters and police.
Romanian far-right populist Calin Georgescu has been officially disqualified from participating in the rerun of the presidential election set for May, leading to violent clashes between his supporters and law enforcement in the capital. The Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) made the decision following a ruling from Romania's constitutional court last year that annulled the first round of voting, in which Georgescu was the frontrunner, due to intelligence gathering revealing Russian operatives supported him via numerous TikTok accounts.
On Sunday, the BEC stated that Georgescu's candidacy did not align with legal standards, declaring he had violated his duty to uphold democratic principles. Reacting furiously, Georgescu termed the disqualification a "severe assault" on democracy. He has been granted 24 hours to appeal the decision to the country's highest court, which is expected to respond within three days.
Supporters of Georgescu clashed with riot police in Bucharest, with demonstrations escalating to the use of tear gas. The protests saw destruction, including overturned vehicles and shattered windows of nearby establishments, resulting in at least four arrests. The violence followed events from February when Georgescu was detained while attempting to register as a candidate; during that incident, massive protests erupted across Romania.
The 62-year-old independent candidate surged to prominence with vows to "restore Romania's dignity" and diminish ties to international bodies like NATO and the EU. His controversial stance on Ukraine included the pledge to cease support if he secured the presidency. Last month, US Vice-President JD Vance criticized Romania's election annulment, citing weak evidence as the motive behind the decision. Meanwhile, Romanian officials have accused tech mogul Elon Musk of meddling in the nation's electoral processes after his supportive tweets for Georgescu.
