Romania Rejects Ultranationalist Presidential Candidate Amid Protests

Calin Georgescu, an ultranationalist figure critical of NATO and Ukraine, has been barred from the upcoming presidential rerun election, leading to protests in Bucharest.

Calin Georgescu, the ultranationalist candidate who previously led in Romania’s halted presidential election, has been disqualified from the May rerun by the Central Electoral Bureau. His exclusion has incited a violent reaction from supporters, involving protests in the capital, Bucharest. The electoral commission’s announcement, made late Sunday, coincided with the initiation of a criminal investigation into Georgescu on charges of inciting actions against the constitutional order and disseminating false information.

The bureau did not detail reasons for rejecting Georgescu's candidacy, nor address the banning of three additional candidates. Following the announcement, a crowd of several hundred gathered outside the election bureau, expressing their anger through chants of "thieves" and "traitors," and clashing with police, who used tear gas in response to projectiles like stones and firecrackers hurled at them. While the protest was notably smaller compared to previous gatherings of Georgescu's backers, it nonetheless intensified the political environment ahead of Romania's second presidential election attempt.

Georgescu is known for his controversial views, including support for Russia and admiration for Romania's fascist past. Given Romania's geographical significance, bordering Ukraine and hosting a U.S. military air base, the implications of his candidacy were far-reaching. The Romanian presidency, despite its limited powers, has historically influenced the nation’s foreign policy, particularly its relationship with NATO. As the political climate remains tense, the nation’s electoral future hangs in the balance amid mounting concerns surrounding violence and political unrest.