BUCHAREST, March 10 (Reuters) - Romanian far-right presidential candidate Calin Georgescu announced on Monday that he plans to contest the decision preventing him from participating in the upcoming election rerun in May. However, analysts believe the chances of him being allowed to run are slim due to concerns about potential Russian interference.
The controversy surrounding Georgescu's candidacy is escalating tensions domestically and internationally. A small faction of his supporters engaged in violent protests in Bucharest on Sunday, leading to property damage. Elon Musk, a prominent advisor to U.S. President Donald Trump, criticized the decision to exclude Georgescu as "crazy."
Romania, a member of NATO and the EU, finds itself at the center of a dispute between Europe and the Trump administration regarding democratic principles. Vice President JD Vance highlighted Romania's cancellation of the December election due to suspected Russian interference, casting doubt on its commitment to democratic values.
Georgescu, standing alongside two political allies in a Facebook video, affirmed his intention to challenge the ban at the Constitutional Court. He also urged his supporters to refrain from violent demonstrations.
Georgescu launched his presidential bid last Friday, but the central election authority deemed his candidacy inadmissible following the Constitutional Court's invalidation of the December vote.
Citizens in Bucharest voiced mixed opinions on the decision, with some criticizing it as a slight against differing viewpoints and others questioning the authority's evidence.
Any challenges to the central election authority's rulings must be submitted within 24 hours. The Constitutional Court is expected to rule on Georgescu's appeal by Wednesday, with analysts expressing skepticism about his chances of being permitted to run.
In a previous case, the court rejected another far-right candidate for her anti-European, pro-Russian stance. Georgescu's potential disqualification could leave opposition ultranationalist parties without a candidate in the upcoming election.
Opposition figure George Simion of the Alliance for Uniting Romanians (AUR) met with Georgescu, hinting at the possibility of submitting his own candidacy based on Georgescu's decision.
Georgescu is currently under investigation for various charges, including ties to a fascist group and misinformation regarding campaign funding, all of which he denies.
Political expert Sergiu Miscoiu cautioned against allowing Georgescu to run, suggesting his victory could jeopardize Romania's pro-Western stance. Despite potential backlash, Miscoiu believes measures such as increased European defense spending and closer ties with China could mitigate any strong reactions from the United States.