BUCHAREST (Reuters) -Romania’s central election authority on Sunday barred far-right pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu from running in May’s presidential election re-run, a decision likely to deepen a constitutional crisis in the European Union and NATO member.
The cancellation on December 6 of the presidential election due to allegations of Russian meddling has thrust Romania to the heart of a dispute between the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and European nations over how democratic values should be defined.
Georgescu had been the frontrunner in last year’s ballot, and members of Trump’s administration called its cancellation an example of European governments suppressing freedom of speech and political opponents.
Sunday’s decision, which tech billionaire and Trump adviser Elon Musk called “crazy” on his social media platform X, risks deepening a rift between transatlantic allies that has already been shaken by the White House’s shift in policy towards Ukraine.
While Musk and Vice President JD Vance have criticised the cancellation of the election, several European diplomats including German, French, Dutch and Spanish ambassadors have expressed support for the independence of Romanian courts.
“A direct blow to the heart of democracy worldwide!”,Georgescu wrote on X in English. “Europe is now a dictatorship, Romania is under tyranny!”
The election authority, which ruled 10 to four against letting Georgescu stand, said it will give details of its decision at a later date. The rejection can be challenged in the constitutional court.
The election bureau checks the validity of the paperwork, wealth and campaign funding statements, as well as required endorsement signatures.
Dozens of supporters of Georgescu gathered outside the election bureau shouting “Thieves!”, “Traitors!” and “Freedom”, and briefly tried to force their way through a security cordon.
Georgescu submitted his candidacy for the May ballot re-run on Friday amid doubts that he would be allowed to run.
Romania’s highest court annulled the ballot two days before the second round of voting in December, citing allegations of Russian interference in Georgescu’s favour, which Moscow has denied.
Georgescu is under criminal investigation on six counts, including membership in a fascist organisation and communicating false information about campaign financing. He has denied all wrongdoing.
(Reporting by Luiza Ilie and Alan Charlish;Editing by Ros Russell and David Holmes)
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