Clashes Erupt in Bucharest as CEB Denies Presidential Candidacy to Far-Right Politician Calin Georgescu
BUCHAREST – The Central Electoral Board (CEB) of Romania has ignited unrest after rejecting the candidacy of far-right politician Calin Georgescu for the rerun of a crucial presidential election. This decision, announced on March 9, was rooted in a Constitutional Court ruling that annulled the original election initiated in November, which Georgescu had surprisingly dominated in the first round.
The CEB justified its decision by stating that Georgescu's application did not comply with the legal conditions established by the Constitutional Court in December 2024, claiming it was "inadmissible" for him to pursue the presidency again. The rerun is scheduled for May 4, leading to heightened tensions among Georgescu’s supporters, who took to the streets of Bucharest in protest.
Violent clashes broke out as hundreds of demonstrators clashed with police outside the CEB headquarters in central Bucharest. Angered by the rejection of their candidate, protesters set fire to street furniture and hurled heavy objects at law enforcement, which retaliated with tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Georgescu, who has been openly critical of NATO and opposes Romanian support for Ukraine amidst the ongoing Russian invasion, submitted his candidacy application on March 7, just days before the CEB's decision. Following the rejection, he vowed to appeal and expressed outrage on social media, framing the situation as a direct threat to democracy in Romania and Europe. He declared, "If democracy in Romania falls, the entire democratic world will fall. This is just the beginning. Europe is now a dictatorship; Romania is under tyranny."
The initial round of the presidential election, which took place on November 24, resulted in Georgescu garnering about 22 percent of the vote, positioning him against pro-European centrist candidate Elena Lasconi. However, the Constitutional Court annulled that result on December 6, citing intelligence reports alleging foreign interference on social media platforms, particularly TikTok, to manipulate voter behavior in favor of Georgescu.
This annulment has deepened the rifts in Romanian politics and raised alarm over the state of democracy within the EU and NATO, prompting international scrutiny. Recently, U.S. Vice President JD Vance indirectly criticized Romania's actions against Georgescu at the Munich Security Conference, questioning the resilience of a democracy that can be thwarted by foreign digital influence.
Georgescu was relatively unknown prior to the election but quickly gained traction through a TikTok campaign that resonated with voters, calling for Romania to halt aid to Ukraine and adopting a more critical stance on NATO membership. His anti-Western rhetoric has been noticeably amplified by Russian state media and Kremlin-friendly platforms.
Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, who supported the Constitutional Court’s decision to annul the election, stated that authorities must provide solid evidence in their investigations surrounding the controversial candidate. The political upheaval continued as President Klaus Iohannis announced his resignation amidst an effort to impeach him, following his refusal to relinquish power after the election annulment.
As tensions rise, it remains to be seen how Georgescu's supporters will respond to the CEB's ruling and whether any lasting effects will emerge from this ongoing political conflict in Romania.
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