BUCHAREST, Romania — Romania’s highest court made a critical decision on Tuesday, dismissing an appeal from Calin Georgescu, a far-right politician seeking to overturn a ban on his electoral candidacy. This ruling prevents his participation in the upcoming rerun of the presidential election slated for May, a decision reached after last year’s original election was invalidated.
The Constitutional Court’s decision in Bucharest was unanimous, finalizing the ban following the Central Election Bureau’s prior refusal of Georgescu’s candidacy. The grounds for this decision remain unspecified. Supporters of Georgescu, assembled near the court with Romanian flags, voiced their discontent, chanting accusations of corruption.
Initial groundwork for the disqualification stemmed from allegations of significant electoral misconduct and accusations of Russian interference, aimed at benefiting Georgescu’s initially successful independent campaign. Originally, the court annulled the election just days before the intended runoff on December 8th.
In response, Georgescu took to social media, claiming systemic exclusion of outsiders in the political arena. He condemned Romania’s reliance on the European Union for economic support and NATO for military defense. Furthermore, he positioned his movement against widespread bureaucratic corruption and systemic injustice.
“The Romanian people have awakened their conscience to save themselves,” Georgescu proclaimed, opining that democracy and freedom were under dire threat. He urged a commitment to peace and democracy to assert their choice.
This court decision has the potential to escalate tensions both within the European Union and among NATO-associated nations, exacerbating Romania’s prolonged political turmoil since the election cancellation.
The initial round of the rescheduled election is planned for May 4. Should no candidate achieve a majority, the runoff will occur on May 18. The far-right faction, controlling a sizable portion of parliamentary seats, is likely to nominate a substitute for Georgescu by the March 15 deadline, with George Simion emerging as a potential contender.
Simion, head of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, expressed concerns over the democratic process, describing Tuesday’s court ruling as a severe setback to democracy and governance. “There is no democracy in Romania, I hope we will restore it,” Simion stated.
Following the court’s conclusion, Georgescu faces further scrutiny, under criminal investigation for potentially infringing constitutional law, associating with fascist ideologies, and discrepancies regarding campaign funding and asset declarations.
Leading up to the November 24 election, Georgescu, under judicial constraints and maintaining his innocence, observed minimal voter support while reporting no campaign expenditures. Concerns arose regarding electoral law violations and potential Russian involvement, allegations Russia has denied.
Earlier, Georgescu has been known for controversial stances, such as praising Russian President Vladimir Putin and questioning Ukraine’s legitimacy, yet denies aligning with pro-Russia sentiments. He maintains controversial views applauding Romania’s fascist and nationalist leaders from the 1930s and 1940s.
Even the U.S. Vice President, Elon Musk, and Russian officials have voiced criticism over Romania’s election annulment and the ban on Georgescu’s candidacy. A statement from the Kremlin condemned any election excluding Georgescu as lacking legitimacy. Correspondingly, Musk queried how judicial decisions could undermine Romania’s democracy.
Elena Lasconi of the Save Romania Union party, Georgescu’s electoral rival, lamented the aftereffects of the court’s ruling, stressing on the necessity of restoring public trust in democratic institutions amid rising societal divisions.
“Romanians need to regain their confidence in the institutions,” Lasconi stated, lamenting that division fosters further mistrust. She cautioned that democracy’s fragility necessitates careful consideration of such rare decisions, urging against normalizing exceptions.
Incumbent Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, organizing his independent campaign themed “Honest Romania,” attributed blame for current discord to deficient political accountability. Dan emphasized the imperative role of the next president in combating corruption and fostering societal unity.
“The Romanian state is weak and vulnerable. It must change,” Dan declared, advocating for national unity and a renewed assault on corruption as vital to democracy’s preservation.
