The Constitutional Court of Romania unanimously decided on Tuesday to deny the candidacy of independent leader Călin Georgescu in the upcoming election. This decision irrevocably rejects Georgescu’s appeal to the Central Election Bureau (BEC) nullification of his leadership bid two days earlier. The reasoning cited by the court was a failure in his constitutional obligation to uphold democracy.
Georgescu was leading opinion polls with 40 percent and had previously won the first round of the controversial 2024 election which was annulled before it had concluded due to fears of Russian interference. Following the nullification, Georgescu filed an action with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to overturn the election nullification, which was refused last week. He called the recent ban a “A direct blow to the heart of democracy…” and claims the judges exceeded their legal powers. Since the initial ban on Sunday, demonstrations have erupted in support of Georgescu, sparking chaos across Bucharest.
Georgescu had previously held prominent roles in government and the United Nations but remained in relative obscurity until his meteoric rise as a right-wing populist through social media. Since beginning his political bid he has been known for his ultranationalist, far-right beliefs and has been widely criticized for his pro-Russian stance as well as COVID-19 denial. Last month a criminal investigation was launched against him over suspicions of campaign funding fraud as well as his illegal praise towards the Romanian fascist movement, the Iron Guard.
In February former Romanian President Klaus Iohannis resigned over allegations of Russian interference, declassifying several documents that point to a Russian-backed campaign to manipulate TikTok algorithms in support of Georgescu’s presidential bid.
Georgescu’s popularity speaks to the continuing momentum of right-wing populist movements in Europe and around the world, a sentiment echoed in Germany‘s recent election with the the far-right AfD party coming in second place. The court’s denial of Georgescu’s candidacy is final and the election is scheduled for this May.