In an eventful day in Bucharest, Romania, far-right populist Calin Georgescu submitted his candidacy papers on Friday for the rerun of the presidential election that was previously annulled. Last year’s election saw Georgescu unexpectedly winning the first round, only for it to be invalidated by Romania’s highest court. Hundreds of Georgescu’s supporters greeted him outside the Central Election Bureau, waving Romanian national flags and chanting slogans that called for another revolution.
The annulment by Romania’s Constitutional Court was prompted by allegations of Russian interference, which reportedly involved a sophisticated online campaign to boost Georgescu’s candidacy. This decision came just two days before the initially scheduled runoff on December 8. Georgescu, who contested as an independent candidate, condemned the court’s ruling by calling it an “officialized coup” and a direct assault on democratic principles. He expressed his determination by submitting his candidacy with over 324,000 signatures, emphasizing the need to uphold democracy and the freedom of expression for Romanians.
Uncertainty shrouds Georgescu’s participation in the upcoming rerun, scheduled for May 4, particularly due to a criminal investigation launched against him last month. Authorities have accused him of incitement to actions against the constitutional order, and connections to fascist groups, alongside false declarations regarding campaign funding and asset disclosures.
The rerun election mandates that if no candidate secures over 50% of the votes in the first round, a runoff will be organized on May 18. Presidential hopefuls have until March 15 to submit their applications, which will be evaluated within 48 hours by the Central Election Bureau, with rejected applications open to appeal within 24 hours.
Before the disruptive developments of November 24, Georgescu faced minimal support, polling in single digits, and declared zero expenditure on his campaign, amid immediate accusations of electoral fraud and Russian interference. While Russia has flatly denied these allegations, Georgescu, who has voiced admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin and has shown skepticism towards Ukraine’s sovereignty, insists he is not aligned with pro-Russian ideologies.
The political landscape in Romania welcomes diverse contenders, such as Nicusor Dan, the current mayor of Bucharest and a mathematician, who also formalized his candidacy on the same day. Dan is running as an independent with the campaign slogan “Honest Romania.” Since the election was annulled, Georgescu has risen as a symbolic figure among the far-right, enjoying support from international personalities like U.S. Vice President JD Vance and entrepreneur Elon Musk, both of whom have criticized Romania’s decision to annul the election results.
