Calin Georgescu, a far-right populist candidate in Romania, has been barred from the May presidential election rerun due to “procedural issues” by the Central Electoral Bureau, following the annulment of the initial vote amid Russian interference. He is expected to appeal this decision.
The Central Electoral Bureau of Romania has disqualified far-right populist candidate Calin Georgescu from the upcoming presidential election rerun scheduled for May. This decision follows the Romanian constitutional court’s annulment of the initial vote in December, which Georgescu had won amid revelations of Russian interference through 800 TikTok accounts supporting him.
The bureau cited “procedural issues” as the reason for his disqualification but did not provide additional information. In response, Georgescu expressed that the ruling was a “direct blow” to democracy and has 24 hours to file an official appeal.
Supporters of Georgescu have rallied outside the Electoral Bureau in protest. In a social media statement, he emphasized that the ban was a “direct blow to the heart of democracy worldwide”. Previously, on February 26, he faced arrest while attempting to register for the summer election, leading to significant protests in Bucharest.
Georgescu is charged with trying to overthrow the constitutional order and affiliations with a neo-fascist organization, all of which he denies. Unexpectedly rising to prominence, the 62-year-old candidate secured a win in last year’s first electoral round, which was later annulled before the second round. His campaign focused on “restoring Romania’s dignity” and resisting international organizations like NATO and the EU. Prior to the annulment, he had stated intentions to terminate support for Ukraine if elected.
In summary, Calin Georgescu’s candidacy for the Romanian presidential election rerun has been barred due to procedural issues as identified by the Central Electoral Bureau. His disqualification follows significant allegations of foreign interference and political arrests. Georgescu’s rise in popularity and his controversial stance on international relations mark him as a notable figure in Romania’s political landscape. He is expected to appeal the disqualification promptly, and public support remains strong despite the bureaucratic setbacks.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
