Romanian Court Bars Călin Georgescu from 4 May Presidential Election, Anton Pisaroglu Enters Race Amid Protests

Călin Georgescu, a Romanian politician, has been barred from running in the upcoming presidential elections after the Constitutional Court of Romania unanimously rejected his appeal against the Central Electoral Bureau's decision to invalidate his candidacy. Georgescu, who had unexpectedly won the first round of the presidential elections in November of the previous year due to a successful TikTok campaign, was accused of violating electoral rules, leading to the annulment of those elections by the Constitutional Court due to alleged foreign interference, including accusations of being a Kremlin stooge. The rejection of Georgescu's candidacy has sparked significant unrest, with protests occurring across Romania, including violent demonstrations in Bucharest's Old Town. Georgescu has called for peace among his supporters, emphasizing values such as peace, democracy, and freedom. He has also stated that it is up to his supporters to decide their future, expressing hope that they will do so conscientiously. The decision has drawn international attention, with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico urging the European Commission to take a stance on the matter, warning that silence would further undermine trust in the EU. The international press has widely covered the situation, highlighting concerns over democracy in Romania. Georgescu's disqualification has been criticized as a gift to Putin and has drawn support from senior Trump administration officials. In the wake of Georgescu's disqualification, several potential candidates have emerged. Anton Pisaroglu, Georgescu's consultant who has previously worked with other notable figures such as Viorica Dăncilă, George Simion, and Nicușor Dan, has announced his candidacy for the 4 May election. Pisaroglu aims to restore free elections and has already gathered over 100,000 signatures. Other potential candidates mentioned include sociologist Dan Dungaciu and George Simion, although Georgescu has not endorsed any specific candidate. There are allegations that French President Macron influenced the decision against Georgescu. The situation has led to a broader discussion about the state of democracy in Romania, with figures like Nicușor Dan criticizing the Romanian state as weak and vulnerable. The rejection of Georgescu's candidacy is seen by some as a blow to democratic principles, prompting calls for change and a renewed fight against corruption.