Romanian far-right candidate Calin Georgescu barred from May presidential vote

The decision follows the cancellation of December election due to alleged Russian interference

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A supporter of Calin Georgescu during a protest in Bucharest, Romania, on Sunday. Photo: AP

Published: 6:27am, 10 Mar 2025Updated: 10:19am, 10 Mar 2025

Romania’s central election authority on Sunday barred far-right pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu from running in May’s presidential election re-run, a decision likely to deepen a constitutional crisis in the European Union and Nato member.

The cancellation on December 6 of the presidential election due to allegations of Russian meddling in Georgescu’s favour has thrust Romania to the heart of a dispute between the administration of US President Donald Trump and European nations over how democratic values should be defined.

In a detailed account published late on Sunday, the election authority said its decision was based on the Constitutional Court’s move to cancel the election after Georgescu did not respect ballot regulations.

“It is inadmissible when rerunning the election to consider that the same person meets the conditions needed to accede to the presidency,” the argument said.

Georgescu had been the surprise front runner in last year’s ballot, and members of Trump’s administration called its cancellation an example of European governments suppressing freedom of speech and political opponents.