Overview

• Romania's Constitutional Court has disqualified nationalist candidate Calin Georgescu from running in the May 2025 presidential election, citing concerns about his alignment with constitutional values.
• The November 2024 presidential election, in which Georgescu won the first round, was annulled due to allegations of Russian interference.
• Georgescu's exclusion has sparked debate over the country's democratic integrity and its susceptibility to external influence.
• The decision has placed Romania in the midst of geopolitical tensions involving the European Union, the United States, and Russia.
• Observers note that Georgescu's rise reflects broader public discontent with the political status quo and growing nationalist sentiment among younger voters.