Romania in Wahlchaos: Scandal around Georgescus excludes exclusion!

Romania in Wahlchaos: Scandal around Georgescus excludes exclusion!

On Sunday there is the presidential election in Romania, which is shaped by deep trust in the political institutions. Around 19 million Romanians entitled to vote will vote for eleven candidates, including the fallen favorite Calin Georgescu, who was excluded from the constitutional process by the constitutional court due to unpleasant allegations. The decision was considered politically motivated and triggered nationwide protests by his followers, who rate the decision as an "attack on democracy". Compact Online reports that Georgescu emerged in the first round of the annulled election in November 2024 as the leading candidate.

Georgescu, who received over 40 percent approval in the surveys before the repetition choice in May 2025, had previously indicated that he wanted to abolish political parties and to comment critically on the EU and NATO membership of Romania. The Constitutional Court unanimously rejected Georgescu's application for an exclusion without providing a detailed reason for justification. This happened after massive reports on an "aggressive Russian hybrid attack" in Romania, which was to benefit Georgescu. Tagesschau gives further details about the political tumult.

The context of choice

The cancellation of the election in December 2024, which took place according to allegations of Russia's electoral influence, also shaked the trust of the population. Political analysts describe the level of manipulation as new, in particular through the mass distribution of Georgescu's content over previously inactive tictok accounts. The situation has further intensified by the high phase of Corona pandemic and the Ukraine War, which led to a deep distrust of political parties.

The political landscape of Romania is shaped by aggressive election campaign and populism. George Simion, the chairman of the right -wing radical party Aur and supporter Georgescus, is traded as a favorite and, according to the surveys, he could receive between 30 and 35 percent of the vote. Simion positions itself as an anti-establishment candidate and criticizes the prevailing political conditions. However, his party also has to fight with a difficult choice due to planned protests and riots of the Georgescu supporters.

effects and reactions

The constitutional court ruled that Georgescu must not run for the presidential office because it does not recognize basic democratic values. The election commission justified this exclusion, among other things, with Georgescus extremely religious and nationalist positions and the ongoing criminal investigations against it, including incorrect information on the financing of his election campaign. Tagesschau reports that his exclusion from the election and the annulment of the first round of election has strengthened the uncertainty about future government formation in Romania.

The focus is now on political developments in Romania, and a new election date must be determined. Lucian Romascanu from the Social Democratic Party expressed concerns about the current political confusion and the possible influence of foreign forces. The upcoming election will have a decisive influence on the political landscape of Romania and could reveal both the position of the established parties and the rise of populist movements.