Romania's Election Authority Bans Far-Right Candidate Calin Georgescu, Triggering Protests

Romania's central election authority has banned far-right, pro-Russian candidate Calin Georgescu from participating in the May presidential election re-run. The decision, announced on Sunday, is not yet legally binding and is expected to be appealed, with the Constitutional Court set to decide on the appeal by Wednesday. Following the announcement, approximately 300 of Georgescu's supporters gathered outside the election bureau, chanting "freedom!" and attempting to breach the security cordon. Georgescu, who is currently leading in opinion polls with about 40 percent of the vote, denounced the decision as "a direct blow to the heart of democracy worldwide" on X. Romania's highest court annulled the initial ballot due to allegations of Russian interference in Georgescu's favor, which Moscow denies. Georgescu has called the annulment a "formalised coup d'etat," and tens of thousands have protested the decision in recent weeks. He faces criminal investigation on six counts, including membership in a fascist organization and communicating false information about campaign financing.