Calin Georgescu, a prominent figure in Romania’s far-right political landscape, has formally appealed against the Central Electoral Bureau’s (BEC) decision that prevents him from running in the upcoming presidential election scheduled for May. The case is set to be reviewed by the country’s constitutional court judges, who will convene on Tuesday afternoon. A decision regarding Georgescu’s appeal is anticipated by Wednesday evening.
The BEC voted 10-4 against his candidacy, citing that he did not meet the necessary legal criteria and had “violated the very obligation to defend democracy.” This ruling follows last year’s annulment of the first round of elections, in which Georgescu was the frontrunner, due to intelligence reports indicating that Russia had coordinated 800 TikTok accounts in his favor.
Georgescu’s defense and public unrest
In his appeal, Georgescu claims that the BEC has “exceeded its legal powers” and urged that the prior court ruling on the November election should not affect his eligibility for the May vote. He took to social media to decry the ban as a “direct blow to the heart of democracy worldwide.” His supporters rallied in large numbers outside the BEC offices on Sunday evening, leading to clashes with police. At least one vehicle was overturned, and several businesses nearby reported vandalism, resulting in four arrests.
Political ramifications and allegations
In a video message, Georgescu expressed gratitude to the Romanian populace while urging them to refrain from violent reactions, stating, “we should not give birth to violence or other forms of this kind compared to how it was last night. We are moving forward with great confidence for the future of this country.” George Simion, a key ally of Georgescu and the leader of the far-right opposition Alliance for Uniting Romanians (AUR), described the situation as akin to a “coup d’état”. He went further by asserting that those responsible for the perceived coup should face public retribution, arguing that Georgescu represents the choice of the Romanian electorate.
The Romanian prosecutor general has initiated an investigation against Simion for inciting violence. In a subsequent clarification, he claimed that his previous remarks were intended as a “metaphor.” Earlier this year, Georgescu was detained while attempting to register as a candidate, which incited tens of thousands of Romanians to protest in Bucharest.
Georgescu, a vocal critic of the EU and NATO, emerged as a leading candidate amid accusations of foreign influence in Romanian politics. His campaign has recently garnered attention from figures in the Trump administration; US Vice-President JD Vance criticized the annulment of elections based on what he described as “flimsy suspicions.” Notably, Elon Musk also weighed in, questioning how a judicial decision could undermine democracy in Romania.