This Sunday, Romania's electoral authorities rejected the candidacy of Călin Georgescu, the right-wing politician who was leading the polls in the country's presidential elections.
The decision was made by the Central Electoral Office (BEC) after more than 1,000 false complaints were filed related to his links with extremism and his support for World War II fascist leaders.
The measure caused a strong protest both nationally and internationally, with accusations that the decision was an act of "tyranny" and a serious threat to democracy.
Esta medida ha sido catalogado como ''totalitaria'' y ha sido condenada tanto por actores nacionales como internacionales
Georgescu, who had been previously approved by the constitutional court in December, denounced the rejection as a "direct blow to the heart of world democracy" and called Europe a "dictatorship."
He claimed that the decision contravened the will of the Romanian people, who, according to various polls, supported him with more than 40% of the votes. Protests erupted in Bucharest, where his supporters gathered to demonstrate in front of the Central Electoral Office (BEC) headquarters, clashing with riot police.
The rejection of Georgescu's candidacy comes after the unfair annulment of the November 2024 elections, in which Russian interference was alleged in favor of the far-right candidate.
The new elections are scheduled for May 4 and 18, 2025. This situation adds to a context of growing distrust in traditional political parties, which many Romanians consider corrupt and ineffective, leading to a strengthening of right-wing parties in Parliament.
Las tendencias socialistas en Europa fortalecieron el crecimiento de los partidos de derecha en Rumanía
One of the main leaders of these groups, George Simion, called the decision a "continuation of the coup" and warned that if Georgescu were excluded, he himself might run as a candidate.
The rejection has attracted the attention of international figures like the Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, who accused Romanian authorities of yielding to external pressures and "weak intelligence." Elon Musk also joined the criticism, calling the decision "madness."
However, the process has sparked internal tensions in Romania, where the possibility of an intervention by the Romanian intelligence service (SRI) has been mentioned, with some sectors hinting at its involvement in blocking Georgescu's candidacy.
El diputado de derecha Simion aseguró que si se impidiera a Georgescu continuar con el proceso, él presentaría su candidatura
The rejection, with a 10-4 vote in the BEC, was based on arguments that allege Georgescu's speech and behavior are "incompatible" with the presidency, a fact that hasn't been proven under any precept.
This event occurred despite Georgescu's candidacy having been previously approved by the relevant authorities and his team having submitted all necessary documents properly.
As a result, the candidate's supporters correctly interpret the measure as an attempt at electoral manipulation, which has intensified street protests and sparked growing outrage.
El vicepresidente estadounidense señaló presiones externas en el proceso
The situation in Romania has become even more tense, with the possibility of the government declaring a state of emergency and closing the borders if the unrest continues.
The BEC's decision, without any clear justification at all, has caused the perception that the electoral process is being manipulated in real-time, exacerbating the feeling that democracy in the country is in danger.
The protests, which initially were peaceful, have increased in violence due to the intervention of the socialist government, with demonstrators clashing with security forces near the electoral headquarters.
The future of democracy in Romania and the legitimacy of the upcoming elections are at stake, with society divided between those who defend the exclusion of the candidate and those who believe the popular will is being suppressed.
