Overview

• Calin Georgescu, a controversial far-right candidate, has been disqualified from Romania's May presidential election by the Electoral Commission, citing violations of electoral fairness and legality.
• The decision follows the annulment of the November 2024 election due to allegations of Russian interference, though no conclusive evidence has been publicly presented.
• Protests erupted in Bucharest after the announcement, with demonstrators clashing with police and accusing authorities of undermining democracy.
• Georgescu, who has faced legal charges including false campaign financing declarations and incitement to constitutional unrest, has labeled the decision a 'direct blow to democracy.'
• International reactions have been polarized, with figures like Elon Musk and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance criticizing the exclusion, while Romanian officials warn of potential foreign influence threats.