Romania blocks Russia-aligned candidate Georgescu from presidential rerun, sparking protests

Romania’s Central Electoral Bureau on Sunday (March 9) barred far-right, Russia-aligned candidate Călin Georgescu from competing in the country’s presidential election rerun in May, citing election violations.

Georgescu, who unexpectedly won the first round of the presidential vote last November following a highly successful TikTok campaign, was disqualified after Romania’s Constitutional Court annulled the result.

The court flagged undeclared campaign financing and alleged fraudulent use of digital technologies, with authorities suspecting Russian interference, Politico reported.

The electoral bureau voted 10-4 to block his candidacy, according to the Digi24 news service.

Georgescu, who continues to lead in the polls , has 24 hours to appeal, with the Constitutional Court required to issue a ruling by Wednesday (March 12).

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He framed the decision as a broader attack on democracy. “If democracy in Romania falls, the entire democratic world will fall!” he wrote on X. “This is just the beginning. Europe is now a dictatorship, Romania is under tyranny!”

A direct blow to the heart of democracy worldwide! I have one message left! If democracy in Romania falls, the entire democratic world will fall! This is just the beginning. It’s that simple!

Europe is now a dictatorship, Romania is under tyranny!

— Călin Georgescu OFFICIAL ACCOUNT (@CG_Romania) March 9, 2025

Protests turn violent in Bucharest

Following the decision, Georgescu’s supporters clashed with riot police in downtown Bucharest on Sunday night, throwing rocks, firecrackers, and bottles, injuring several officers, according to Digi24. Riot police responded with tear gas to disperse the crowds.

Elena Lasconi, leader of the center-right Union Save Romania party and Georgescu’s expected opponent in the canceled runoff last year, urged the electoral bureau to clarify its ruling. “Decisions must be explained, otherwise people will become furious, suspicious, and prone to conspiracies,” she said in a statement.

International reactions

The Trump administration, which has aligned with the Kremlin on key foreign policy issues, has supported allowing Georgescu to compete. Trump’s senior adviser, Elon Musk, reacted swiftly, calling the decision “crazy” in a post on X.

Matteo Salvini, Italy’s deputy prime minister and leader of the right-wing populist Lega party, condemned the ruling as a “Soviet-style Euro-coup,” writing on X that it deprived Romanians at home and abroad of their democratic rights.