Romanian presidential hopeful Calin Georgescu has unleashed harsh criticism against the EU, branding it a “dictatorship” after his candidacy was blocked by the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) in Bucharest.
The decision, issued late Sunday, cited over 1,000 challenges against him, pointing to his alleged “anti-democratic” and “extremist” views. Officials stated that he had “failed to comply with electoral rules,” undermining democracy instead of defending it.
Georgescu, a nationalist figure polling at 40-45% and a strong contender in the race, fiercely denounced the ruling. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he declared: “If democracy falls in Romania, the entire world will follow! Europe is now a dictatorship; our nation is under tyranny!”
The decision triggered clashes outside the electoral office, with Georgescu’s supporters attempting to breach police barriers. Law enforcement retaliated with tear gas and pepper spray.
A vocal critic of NATO, the EU, and Western aid to Ukraine, Georgescu made waves in November after unexpectedly winning 23% in the first round of voting. However, Romania’s Constitutional Court swiftly annulled the results, citing “irregularities” and intelligence reports of Russian interference. An investigation later suggested that a consulting firm tied to Romania’s ruling pro-Western party may have inadvertently boosted his campaign while attempting to sabotage another candidate.
Adding to the controversy, authorities have accused Georgescu of campaign finance violations, failing to disclose hefty donations from influential businessmen. Last month, he was arrested on charges of promoting fascist and xenophobic ideologies, as well as plotting anti-constitutional actions. He has dismissed the allegations as a politically driven attack by Romania’s so-called “deep state.”
Meanwhile, Russia has denied any involvement in Romania’s elections, with Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stating, “We’ve repeatedly rejected these baseless accusations—Russia does not interfere in the affairs of other nations.”
