Far-Right Candidate Georgescu Disqualified from Romania’s May Presidential Election | Election News

Following the election authority’s decision, around 300 of Georgescu’s supporters gathered outside the election bureau, chanting ‘freedom!’.

Romania’s central election authority has disqualified far-right, pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu from running in the country’s May presidential election re-run, sparking protests from his supporters.

The decision, announced on Sunday, is not yet legally binding and is expected to be appealed, with Romania’s Constitutional Court set to rule on the appeal by Wednesday.

The far-right candidate unexpectedly won the first round of the presidential election on November 24.

Shortly before the run-off, the Constitutional Court canceled the first round due to irregularities in campaign financing linked to Russian interference, and the election was rescheduled for May 4.

After the election authority’s decision, around 300 of Georgescu’s supporters gathered outside the election bureau, chanting “freedom!” and attempting to breach the security cordon.

Georgescu condemned the election authority’s move on X as “a direct blow to the heart of democracy worldwide”.

He is currently leading in opinion polls with approximately 40 percent of the vote.

Allegations of Russian Interference

Georgescu submitted his candidacy for the May election re-run on Friday, despite doubts about his eligibility.

Romania’s highest court annulled the first round of voting two days before the second round in December, citing allegations of Russian interference in Georgescu’s favor, which Moscow has denied.

Georgescu denounced the annulment as a “formalized coup d’état”. In recent weeks, tens of thousands of people have protested against the decision.

Members of US President Donald Trump’s administration described Romania’s canceled election as an example of European governments suppressing freedom of speech and political opponents.

Tech billionaire and Trump adviser Elon Musk called the election authority’s decision “crazy” on his social media platform X.

Georgescu is under criminal investigation on six counts, including membership in a fascist organization and spreading false information about campaign financing.

He has denied all wrongdoing.