Romania’s electoral authority has rejected Calin Georgescu’s candidacy for the presidential election redo scheduled for May. The decision follows an annulment of previous election results due to alleged foreign interference. Georgescu labeled the rejection an assault on democracy, while his supporters decried it as a coup, highlighting ongoing political tensions in Romania.
On Sunday, Romania’s electoral authority rejected Calin Georgescu’s candidacy for a presidential election redo. Georgescu, a far-right populist, had previously won the first round of last year’s elections, which were annulled by a top court. After submitting his candidacy in Bucharest on Friday, the Central Election Bureau (BEC) had 48 hours to process it but did not disclose the specific reasons for rejection, stating that a full decision would be available on their website.
Georgescu reacted strongly, claiming the decision was a “direct blow to the heart of democracy worldwide” and warned, “If democracy in Romania falls, the entire democratic world will fall!” His comments were made on the social media platform X, where he labeled Europe as a dictatorship and Romania as being under tyranny.
The BEC’s decision follows the annulment of the first-round results by Romania’s Constitutional Court, amidst allegations of a Russian-backed campaign supporting Georgescu. Additionally, he is the subject of a criminal investigation for incitement against the constitutional order, supporting fascist factions, and making false declarations during his electoral campaign. Georgescu, who denies any wrongdoing, had indicated minimal campaign expenditure before the Nov. 24 election.
As the first round of the rerun is set for May 4, with a potential runoff on May 18, the application deadline for candidates is March 15. George Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, who supported Georgescu, criticized the BEC’s decision as “a new abuse and a continuation of the coup d’état.”
In the aftermath of the election cancellation, Georgescu gained significant traction among the far-right, earning support from notable public figures like U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk, both of whom condemned the annulment of the vote. Musk expressed his bewilderment at the BEC’s decision, stating, “This is crazy!”
The rejection of Calin Georgescu’s candidacy by Romania’s electoral body reflects significant political tensions leading up to the upcoming presidential elections. His reaction, which characterizes the decision as an attack on democracy, underscores a broader narrative involving allegations of foreign interference and internal political strife. The political landscape remains poised for further developments as the rerun draws near, amidst ongoing scrutiny of election integrity and the influence of far-right populism.
Original Source: kstp.com
