**Romanian Far-Right Candidate Calin Georgescu Banned from Presidential Election**

Supporters rally in Bucharest after far-right candidate Calin Georgescu is denied the chance to run in the upcoming presidential election.

Romania's far-right political landscape faces a significant setback as Calin Georgescu, a populist figure aspiring to presidential office, was barred from the upcoming election due to a ruling by the Constitutional Court. This court decision, reached in a unanimous verdict after two hours of deliberation, followed Georgescu's earlier rejection by the Central Electoral Bureau. The agency indicated that his candidacy contradicted legal standards, particularly due to his failure to uphold democratic principles.

Georgescu's initial success in the prior presidential election was rendered invalid following revelations of suspected Russian interference, including a network of TikTok accounts promoting his campaign, which raised suspicions of foreign meddling in Romanian politics. After a swift appeal to the court, Georgescu addressed his supporters through social media, acknowledging the ruling without inciting further unrest but encouraging them to consider alternative candidates for the May election.

Protests erupted outside the court soon after, with supporters clad in Romanian flags expressing their anger and frustration at what they termed a betrayal of democratic values. Demonstrators held Orthodox icons and chanted slogans in favor of Georgescu, some even labeling the judges involved in the ruling as traitors. The anger was palpable as they decried the decision, believing it to be fueled by a political elite that has grown disconnected from the populace.

Georgescu's political journey reflects broader concerns among Romanians regarding governance and malign foreign influence. The discontent resonating with his supporters has been highlighted by recent protests, signaling a potential shift in political sentiment despite the court's ruling. Meanwhile, allegations of Russian support for Georgescu provoke apprehensions among European leaders regarding the country’s political stability and the safeguarding of democratic institutions against external threats.

As tensions build and the May election approaches, the fallout from Georgescu's disqualification continues to provoke public discourse, with many citizens expressing their desire for a more inclusive democratic process that allows them to make their own choices at the ballot box.