Far-Right Candidate Barred in Romania, Election Thrown into Turmoil

 The Romanian Constitutional Court has definitively barred far-right politician Călin Georgescu from participating in the May presidential elections. This decision has sparked protests and raised concerns about the country’s democracy.

The Economist is the first major international publication that sounded the alarm on Romania’s state of democracy, and, in the journalists’ opinion, Romania slid to authoritarianism.

The Constitutional Court’s Decision

On Tuesday, March 11, the Constitutional Court unanimously rejected Georgescu’s appeal against the Central Electoral Bureau’s (BEC) decision to invalidate his candidacy. The court’s ruling is final and binding, meaning Georgescu will not be on the ballot for the upcoming election.

The BEC rejected Georgescu’s candidacy on Sunday, March 9, stating that he failed to meet the legal conditions and had breached the essential duty to uphold democracy. This decision followed the annulment of the previous election results due to interference and Georgescu’s alleged violation of election rules.

The Preceding Events

Georgescu, a politician associated with pro-American and pro-Russian stances, had won the first round of the presidential vote last year. However, the Constitutional Court annulled the results in December, citing interference and illegal financing of his campaign. Reports indicated activity linked to external influence promoting his campaign.

Despite the controversy, Georgescu submitted his candidacy for the repeat poll on Friday, March 7. The BEC’s subsequent rejection of his candidacy triggered protests in downtown Bucharest.

Reactions and Protests

The Constitutional Court’s decision has been met with mixed reactions. Supporters of Georgescu gathered in Bucharest to protest the ruling, chanting slogans. Some demonstrators attempted to draw international attention by speaking in various languages.

George Simion, an opposition leader, criticized the court’s decision, calling it an attack on democracy. Meanwhile, another political figure hoped that Georgescu would be held accountable for his alleged actions.

Georgescu is currently being investigated for offenses, including incitement, spreading false information, and falsifying financial disclosure statements regarding campaign funding. He has also been accused of initiating or supporting certain organizations and publicly promoting individuals convicted of crimes.

Allegations of external backing have been made, but still no hard evidence proving it, which leads to speculations and conspiracy theories.

Impact on the Election

With Georgescu out of the race, parties are working to unite behind a new candidate. Opinion polls had shown Georgescu as a potential candidate, and his endorsement is expected to influence the election.

The first round of the rerun is scheduled for May 4, with a potential runoff on May 18.