Georgescu Plans Appeal Against Ban from Romanian Presidential Election - Reuters
The critic of NATO has once more been prohibited from contesting for the nation’s highest position.. source:TROIB RTS
TroibNews 
Romanian presidential candidate Calin Georgescu, known for his strong criticism of NATO, has announced plans to appeal the Central Electoral Bureau's (BEC) decision to exclude him from the upcoming May election, according to a report from Reuters citing one of his advisers.
On Sunday, the BEC rejected Georgescu's candidacy, referencing over 1,000 challenges submitted against him. Recent surveys indicated Georgescu was the frontrunner for the election rerun, with polling numbers between 40% and 45%.
Georgescu condemned the BEC's ruling, asserting that the EU has devolved into a “dictatorship," and labeled his own country as a “tyranny.” On Monday, he pledged to contest the decision in the Constitutional Court.
“We go together all the way for the same values: peace, democracy, freedom,” he expressed in a video posted on social media. He also decried the violence that occurred between his supporters and police outside the BEC office in Budapest on Sunday, encouraging his followers to refrain from such actions.
Under Romanian law, the BEC's decision must be challenged within 24 hours, and the highest judiciary body is required to issue a final ruling within 48 hours.
Georgescu initially achieved a surprising victory in the first round of the presidential election last November, securing 23% of the votes. However, the Constitutional Court quickly annulled this result, citing “irregularities” in the campaign. Georgescu is recognized for his vocal opposition to both NATO and the EU, as well as for his stance against supporting Ukraine.
Preliminary reports from an investigation into the election irregularities, published by media earlier this year, suggested that the problematic activities were linked to a consulting firm associated with the pro-Western National Liberal Party. The firm allegedly attempted to undermine another candidate but inadvertently benefited Georgescu instead.
Last month, he was indicted on six criminal charges, which include claims of conspiring to commit “anti-constitutional acts” and “promoting fascist, racist, or xenophobic ideologies.” Georgescu has rejected all allegations, asserting that the legal actions against him are part of a strategy devised by the Romanian “deep state.”
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
On Sunday, the BEC rejected Georgescu's candidacy, referencing over 1,000 challenges submitted against him. Recent surveys indicated Georgescu was the frontrunner for the election rerun, with polling numbers between 40% and 45%.
Georgescu condemned the BEC's ruling, asserting that the EU has devolved into a “dictatorship," and labeled his own country as a “tyranny.” On Monday, he pledged to contest the decision in the Constitutional Court.
“We go together all the way for the same values: peace, democracy, freedom,” he expressed in a video posted on social media. He also decried the violence that occurred between his supporters and police outside the BEC office in Budapest on Sunday, encouraging his followers to refrain from such actions.
Under Romanian law, the BEC's decision must be challenged within 24 hours, and the highest judiciary body is required to issue a final ruling within 48 hours.
Georgescu initially achieved a surprising victory in the first round of the presidential election last November, securing 23% of the votes. However, the Constitutional Court quickly annulled this result, citing “irregularities” in the campaign. Georgescu is recognized for his vocal opposition to both NATO and the EU, as well as for his stance against supporting Ukraine.
Preliminary reports from an investigation into the election irregularities, published by media earlier this year, suggested that the problematic activities were linked to a consulting firm associated with the pro-Western National Liberal Party. The firm allegedly attempted to undermine another candidate but inadvertently benefited Georgescu instead.
Last month, he was indicted on six criminal charges, which include claims of conspiring to commit “anti-constitutional acts” and “promoting fascist, racist, or xenophobic ideologies.” Georgescu has rejected all allegations, asserting that the legal actions against him are part of a strategy devised by the Romanian “deep state.”
Anna Muller contributed to this report for TROIB News
