Calin Georgescu, a far-right populist politician in Romania, has been officially barred from participating in the presidential election scheduled for May 2025. The Constitutional Court delivered its final ruling on Tuesday afternoon, unanimously agreeing to uphold the Central Electoral Bureau's prior decision to reject Georgescu's candidacy.

Georgescu previously garnered attention after winning the first round of last year's presidential elections, which was subsequently annulled following revelations of Russian interference.

Intelligence reports indicated that nearly 800 TikTok accounts promoting his candidacy were traced back to Russia.

The Central Electoral Bureau cited that Georgescu's candidacy failed to meet the legal conditions necessary for participation, emphasizing that he had violated obligations meant to support democracy.

Following the ruling, Georgescu attempted to mobilize his supporters by suggesting they back another candidate for the impending election, while expressing concerns about the state of democracy in Romania.

Following the judgment, protests erupted outside the court in Bucharest.

Supporters of Georgescu gathered, many draping Romanian flags around themselves and holding Orthodox Christian icons.

Demonstrators expressed their frustrations towards the judges, labeling them as traitors and voicing slogans demanding Georgescu's presidency.

Earlier this year, Georgescu faced detention as he attempted to register as a candidate, which led to significant protests across Bucharest.

Many supporters viewed his exclusion from the electoral process as a result of systemic corruption among Romania's political elite.

George Simion, a prominent ally of Georgescu, affirmed public outrage in a social media post, claiming that the Romanian populace is awakening to fight against political marginalization.

The backdrop to this political turmoil includes widespread sentiment among Romanians who perceive escalating threats to democracy, particularly from influences believed to emerge from Russia.

Observers note that the involvement of a candidate seen as sympathetic to Vladimir Putin complicates Romania's geopolitical landscape, especially given the ongoing tensions regarding NATO relations.

In response to claims regarding alleged Russian support for Georgescu, Kremlin representatives have dismissed such assertions as baseless.

As protests continued, many demonstrators expressed a fundamental desire for democratic rights, stating their disappointment in the turnout and voicing a collective yearning for the opportunity to participate in the electoral process.