BUCHAREST: Romanian far-right politician Calin Georgescu on Monday is expected to appeal a decision to bar him from standing in a presidential vote re-run, which has sparked violent clashes and plunged the EU and Nato member bordering war-torn Ukraine into deeper uncertainty. Romania's electoral bureau on Sunday rejected Georgescu's candidacy for the May re-run of last year's annulled presidential election, which could spell the end of his meteoric rise and has already sparked outrage among his supporters in Bucharest.
Georgescu's team has vowed to appeal Sunday's decision, which the 62-year-old EU and Nato critic has slammed as "a direct blow to the heart of democracy worldwide". "We will appeal the decision at the Constitutional Court. The appeal is being worked on," a representative from his legal team said, saying they plan to file it later on Monday. Hundreds rallied against the decision late Sunday, with clashes between protesters and law enforcers leaving 13 injured. More demonstrations are expected later on Monday. Georgescu, a former senior government official, is currently leading opinion polls and is projected to win around 40 per cent of votes in May.
Georgescu shot to prominence almost overnight to unexpectedly win the first round of a presidential election last November. But in a shock move, Romania's constitutional court annulled the ballot shortly before the second round was to be held in December, after claims of Russian meddling and a "massive" social media promotion of Georgescu.
Georgescu appealed the annulment, which was also slammed by US tech billionaire Elon Musk and US Vice President JD Vance, but his petitions have so far been rejected, and he submitted his candidacy for the May re-run last week. But in a statement on Sunday, the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) said it had rejected "the independent candidacy" of Georgescu for May's re-run based on the top court's annulment of the November ballot.
Another far-right politician George Simion, the leader of AUR, also slammed Sunday's decision of the electoral bureau as "a serious abuse and attack on fundamental rights" and "a new episode" of a "coup d'etat". "This is a black page in our fragile democracy," he said. The rejection of Georgescu's candidacy "opens the way for another candidate," political analyst Radu Magdin said. In the far-right camp, Simion is well positioned to take over, although other politicians from different camps could also take advantage of the situation.
Last month, prosecutors indicted Georgescu on numerous charges, including making "false statements" over his campaign financing, as well as "attempts to instigate actions against the constitutional order". Georgescu has been placed under judicial control, meaning he will have to report to authorities regularly. Opposed to sending aid to Ukraine, Georgescu, who previously expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin but denies any links to Moscow -- has recently presented himself as "ultra pro" Trump. — AFP
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