Romania Bars Far-Right Candidates as Presidential Election Nears

George Simion of the AUR party is approved to run, while other far-right hopefuls face disqualification over legal and political concerns.

Romania's electoral commission has barred far-right figures Calin Georgescu and Diana Sosoaca from running in May's presidential election, citing legal and political grounds.
George Simion, leader of the ultranationalist Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), has been cleared to participate, becoming the most prominent far-right candidate following Georgescu's exclusion.
The November 2024 presidential election was annulled due to allegations of Russian interference and social media manipulation, leading to the current rerun scheduled for May 2025.
Far-right leaders, including Simion and Anamaria Gavrila, have pledged to represent the broader 'sovereignist movement,' with one potentially withdrawing to consolidate support.
The disqualifications have sparked criticism from nationalist groups, while pro-European voices emphasize the need to uphold democratic values and address foreign influence concerns.