The Constitutional Court was also the one that annulled Georgescu’s victory last year, flagging undeclared campaign financing and fraudulent use of digital technologies, with an alleged Russian operation seen as having influenced the result.
Moscow has denied any links to Georgescu. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday any election that doesn’t involve Georgescu was illegitimate.
The decision to keep Georgescu out of the race is expected to be met with backlash from the Trump administration, which includes key officials who support Georgescu.
Elon Musk, President Donald Trump’s billionaire adviser, called the Central Electoral Bureau’s decision Sunday “crazy.” Vice-president JD Vance used Romania’s election cancellation last year as an example of democratic backsliding in Europe, when speaking at the Munich Security Council last week.
Candidates to be Romania’s next president have up to March 19 to file to run. The first round of the presidential election is scheduled for May 4, with a run-off set for May 18.