Final Verdict Disqualifies Far-Right Politician Georgescu from Presidential Election

Calin Georgescu's political future is dimmed as a ruling from Romania's Constitutional Court bars him from the upcoming presidential election, igniting protests from his supporters who claim their democratic rights are being trampled.

Romanian far-right populist Calin Georgescu's aspirations for the upcoming presidential elections have come to an abrupt halt following a final ruling by the Constitutional Court. The decision, made on Tuesday afternoon after two hours of deliberation, confirmed Georgescu's disqualification from participating in the election set for May.

A lively crowd gathered outside the court in Bucharest, expressing their outrage and chanting "traitors" and "we are going nowhere." The Central Electoral Bureau had previously rejected Georgescu's candidacy for a rerun of last year's presidential election, citing that he had not "met the conditions of legality" and had "violated the very obligation to defend democracy." This ruling followed intelligence revelations about Russian interference, including the establishment of nearly 800 TikTok accounts promoting his campaign.

Prior to the court's announcement, the protesters demonstrated fervently, many draped in Romanian flags and displaying Orthodox Christian icons, with some even hoisting a large wooden crucifix. Amidst the tension, a man dressed in a traditional peasant smock climbed a lamppost, waving a giant Romanian flag, while chants of “Calin Georgescu is president” echoed through the crowd.

Tensions escalated upon hearing the court's ruling, leading to loud boos aimed at the judges. The crowd expressed their sentiments passionately, insisting they were there to defend democracy. Georgescu, initially a fringe figure in Romanian politics, has recently gained traction among those who believe he represents the disenfranchised against a corrupt political elite.

Support from fellow far-right politician George Simion, who leads the Alliance for Uniting Romanians (AUR), reinforced the notion that Georgescu's supporters feel morally wronged by the ruling. Simion declared on Facebook, "Shame! You will not defeat us. The people of Romania have awoken. They will win."

The disqualification stems from intelligence findings that linked a promotional campaign for Georgescu to Russian efforts aimed at destabilizing European unity. With persistent fears about Russian influence simmering among the public, many view Georgescu's admiration for Vladimir Putin and opposition to NATO with skepticism. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has dismissed claims of any ties between Russian authorities and Georgescu as "absolutely baseless."

As the evening unfolded, the atmosphere outside the court remained charged, with police maintaining a calm presence, while many protesters seemed undecided on their next move, potentially awaiting further instructions from Georgescu himself as he took to the airwaves.