Calin Georgescu Barred from Romania’s Presidential Election Amid Protests

Calin Georgescu, a far-right candidate in Romania, has been barred from the upcoming presidential election, leading to protests and clashes in Bucharest. Allegations of Russian interference had previously resulted in the annulment of his initial election win. Georgescu intends to challenge this decision legally while facing multiple indictments related to his campaign.

The recent decision by Romania’s electoral bureau to bar Calin Georgescu, a far-right candidate, from the upcoming presidential election has incited significant unrest among his supporters in Bucharest. Georgescu gained notoriety by unexpectedly winning the first round of presidential elections last November, but the results were annulled due to allegations of Russian interference.

The electoral bureau announced its rejection of Georgescu’s candidacy for a re-run of the election slated for May, although no specific reasons were provided for this decision. Following this ruling, clashes erupted between police and approximately 300 of Georgescu’s supporters, who gathered to protest outside the electoral commission.

Georgescu, who currently leads in opinion polls with roughly 40 percent support, has condemned the electoral bureau’s move, asserting it undermines democracy globally. He has the option to contest the bureau’s decision in Romania’s constitutional court.

In addition to the electoral challenges, Georgescu has recently been indicted on multiple charges, including making false statements regarding his campaign financing and instigating activities against Romania’s constitutional order. He has publicly refuted any affiliations with Moscow and labeled the annulment of last November’s election as a “formalised coup d’etat.”

Calin Georgescu, a far-right candidate for the Romanian presidential election, has been barred from running, prompting clashes in Bucharest. Despite initially winning the past election’s first round, allegations of Russian interference led to the annulment of the vote. With ongoing legal challenges and public protests, the situation continues to evolve as Georgescu denied ties to Russia and speaks out against the electoral bureau’s ruling.

Original Source: www.france24.com