Calin Georgescu, a far-right populist in Romania, has lost his appeal to join the presidential race in May. The Constitutional Court confirmed this decision after two hours of discussion.
A throng of supporters gathered outside the court in Bucharest, expressing their frustration with chants of “traitors” and “we are going nowhere.” Earlier, the Central Electoral Bureau ruled that Georgescu did not meet the legal conditions to run, claiming he violated the obligation to support democracy.
Georgescu had made headlines last year by winning the first round of voting. However, his victory was thrown into doubt when it was revealed that nearly 800 TikTok accounts promoting him were tied to Russian influence. This led to the annulment of the election results.
The crowd outside the court displayed their discontent by waving Romanian flags and holding Orthodox icons. One man climbed a lamppost, waving an enormous flag as the crowd cheered. They shouted slogans like “Calin Georgescu is president” and criticized the judges, with some holding signs that read “Stop dictatorship.”
The atmosphere turned chaotic when the court’s decision was announced, prompting loud boos aimed at the judges. Many in the crowd felt compelled to defend democracy and stand up against what they perceive as a corrupt political elite.
Georgescu’s supporters believe he represents a movement for change, claiming that the establishment is trying to silence him. His detention while attempting to register as a candidate led to protests from tens of thousands of Romanians, reflecting widespread frustration with the political landscape.
Supporters, including George Simion of the far-right Alliance for Uniting Romanians (AUR), declared on social media that the people would prevail despite the setbacks. The first presidential election was annulled after intelligence reports indicated that Russian influence was manipulating the voting process.
Many Romanians view this as a threat to their democratic values, particularly because Georgescu has expressed admiration for Vladimir Putin and critical views towards NATO. Despite Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov’s assertion that the claims of Russian ties are unfounded, concerns remain among the public.
As the evening wore on, the demonstrations continued, with police observing the crowd but maintaining a calm presence. Protesters seemed unsure of their next steps, perhaps waiting for further guidance from Georgescu, who has yet to address them on television.
