Romania’s Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) has disqualified right-wing candidate Calin Georgescu from participating in the upcoming presidential election set for May, citing his alleged promotion of “anti-democratic” ideals. Georgescu had previously caused a political upset by winning the first round of presidential voting in November, a result that was later annulled, leading to a scheduled rerun of the election.
Electoral authorities in Bucharest justified their controversial decision by accusing Georgescu of failing to adhere to election protocols, specifically emphasising his supposed inability to “comply with the rules of the electoral procedure, violating the very obligation… to defend democracy.” The Bureau highlighted receiving over 1,000 complaints about Georgescu, particularly regarding views deemed “extremist.”
The politician, who once belonged to the right-wing Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), left the party in 2022 following internal disagreements. Despite lacking current party affiliation, Georgescu successfully built a significant online presence, enabling him to remain influential in public discourse. Before entering the presidential race, Georgescu, who holds a PhD in soil science, served Romania in the environmental ministry throughout much of the 1990s and 2000s. He represented his country in the United Nations Environment Programme’s national committee until 2012.
The surprise victory Georgescu secured in November, where he received 23 per cent of the national vote, defied all prominent pollsters’ predictions. However, Romania’s Constitutional Court swiftly invalidated these results in December, basing their decision on intelligence reports alleging unspecified “irregularities” and purported Russian interference in Georgescu’s campaign. Yet, despite these serious accusations, no concrete evidence substantiating these claims has emerged.
Following the Constitutional Court’s decision, Romanian media outlets, citing preliminary investigations, reported that the alleged election “irregularities” might have resulted from efforts by a consulting agency linked to the pro-Western governing National Liberal Party. According to these reports, the agency’s campaign to undermine another presidential candidate inadvertently boosted Georgescu’s popularity.
Georgescu has not shied away from controversy, openly criticising NATO and the European Union—both of which count Romania as a member—and repeatedly voicing opposition to Western support for Ukraine. His outspoken positions drew particular scrutiny from Romanian authorities and contributed to the BEC’s decision to bar him from May’s ballot.
Responding to the ban via social media platform X, Georgescu called the ruling a “direct blow to the heart of democracy worldwide.” He further declared:
“Europe is now a dictatorship [and] Romania is under tyranny.”
Georgescu had previously reached out internationally for support following recent legal challenges. In late February, he was briefly detained and faced indictment on six criminal counts, including accusations of “anti-constitutional acts,” alleged “voter bribery,” and “promoting fascist, racist, or xenophobic ideologies.” Reacting to these charges, he directly appealed to former US President Donald Trump, requesting him to “take care about the situation,” alleging he was targeted by a “deep state” conspiracy within Romania.
Although Trump himself has not publicly responded, prominent US officials have voiced concern over Georgescu’s predicament. At the Munich Security Conference held in February, US Vice President J.D. Vance criticised what he labelled “ugly, Soviet-era” tactics emerging in Romania, aimed at silencing “alternative viewpoint[s].” Elon Musk, appointed by Trump as the government’s efficiency advisor, also intervened via social media, characterising Georgescu’s detention as “messed up.”
Amid allegations of external interference, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov categorically denied any Russian involvement in Romanian elections. Responding to the accusations made by Romanian authorities, Peskov emphasised in November:
“We are not in the habit of interfering in elections in other countries, particularly in Romania, and we do not intend to do so now.”
He further attributed these allegations to what he described as a “basic trend that exists in the West.”
Romania’s political turmoil parallels a recent incident in South Africa, where former President Jacob Zuma faced similar judicial and electoral interventions. In that instance, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and judicial authorities prohibited Zuma from contesting elections. Both the ruling party and key opposition groups supported Zuma’s exclusion and sought to ban the MK party altogether. These events, critics suggest, highlight an increasingly common pattern within constitutional democracies where unelected judicial bodies override electoral preferences.
The Central Electoral Bureau’s ruling against Georgescu can still be contested before Romania’s Constitutional Court, but appeals must be submitted within 24 hours, leaving a narrow window for recourse. The controversy around Georgescu’s candidacy has intensified debates about democracy, sovereignty, and foreign influence, illustrating the complexity of modern electoral politics in Eastern Europe and beyond.
