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George Simion of the AUR party is approved to run, while other far-right hopefuls face disqualification over legal and political concerns.

George Simion, the leader of Romania's most popular far-right party, the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), speaks in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, March 14, 2025, after filing his candidacy to participate in the country's presidential election rerun in May as he seeks to rally nationalist voters in the wake of last year's controversial frontrunner being barred from the race. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Controversial politician Diana Sosoaca, who was barred by a top court from entering last year's presidential election, raises her hands wearing boxing gloves and speaking outside the country's electoral authority after she registered an unlikely bid to enter the May rerun in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
George Simion, the leader of Romania's most popular far-right party, the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), walks with former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, right, in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, March 14, 2025, after filing his candidacy to participate in the country's presidential election rerun in May. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Elena Lasconi, presidential candidate for the Save Romania Union (USR) party, gestures outside the electoral authority after registering her bid to enter the May presidential election rerun in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Overview

  • Romania's electoral commission has barred far-right figures Calin Georgescu and Diana Sosoaca from running in May's presidential election, citing legal and political grounds.
  • George Simion, leader of the ultranationalist Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), has been cleared to participate, becoming the most prominent far-right candidate following Georgescu's exclusion.
  • The November 2024 presidential election was annulled due to allegations of Russian interference and social media manipulation, leading to the current rerun scheduled for May 2025.
  • Far-right leaders, including Simion and Anamaria Gavrila, have pledged to represent the broader 'sovereignist movement,' with one potentially withdrawing to consolidate support.
  • The disqualifications have sparked criticism from nationalist groups, while pro-European voices emphasize the need to uphold democratic values and address foreign influence concerns.