Cǎlin Georgescu, a pro-Russia candidate, has been barred by Romania’s election authority from the May presidential election re-run. His exclusion has been met with protests from supporters and criticism as undemocratic. Georgescu faces multiple criminal charges while his prior election campaign was annulled due to alleged Russian interference.
Romania’s central election authority has prohibited far-right pro-Russia candidate Cǎlin Georgescu from participating in the upcoming presidential election re-run scheduled for May. This decision was announced on Sunday evening and has been criticized by leaders of far-right parties as undemocratic. Georgescu’s candidacy can be contested at the constitutional court.
A gathering of Georgescu’s supporters outside the election bureau resulted in chants of “Freedom” as they attempted to breach the security perimeter. He submitted his candidacy application for the May election last Friday, despite concerns regarding his eligibility.
Previously, Romania’s highest court annulled the December ballot two days before the second round of voting, attributing the decision to allegations of Russian meddling in Georgescu’s favor, which Russia has denied. Observers, including members of former US President Donald Trump’s administration, deemed the annulled election an infringement on free speech and political dissent.
Prominent figures like tech billionaire Elon Musk labelled the election authority’s ruling as “crazy” on his social media platform X. It is important to note that Georgescu is currently facing a criminal investigation with six charges, including association with a fascist organization and disseminating false information regarding campaign financing, charges which he firmly denies.
In summary, Cǎlin Georgescu’s exclusion from the upcoming presidential election re-run in Romania has sparked controversy and claims of undemocratic actions from far-right party members. His past election campaign was marred by allegations of Russian influence, which have prompted further scrutiny. Additionally, Georgescu’s ongoing criminal investigation raises significant questions about his eligibility as a candidate.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
