Romania’s central election authority has prohibited far-right pro-Russia candidate Călin Georgescu from participating in the May presidential election re-run. The decision was announced on Sunday evening and criticized by far-right party leaders as an affront to democracy. It can be contested at the constitutional court. Supporters of populist Georgescu protested outside the election bureau, chanting “Freedom” and attempting to breach the security cordon. Georgescu submitted his candidacy for the May ballot on Friday amid uncertainty regarding his eligibility. Romania’s highest court had previously annulled the December election citing allegations of Russian interference in favor of Georgescu, a claim Moscow denies. US President Donald Trump’s administration viewed Romania’s cancelled election as an example of European governments suppressing free speech and political opponents. Tech billionaire and Trump advisor Elon Musk denounced the election authority’s decision as “crazy” on his social media platform X. Georgescu is currently under criminal investigation on six charges, including membership of a fascist organization and spreading false information about campaign financing, all of which he denies.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/09/pro-russia-calin-georgescu-barred-from-romanian-presidential-election-re-run