Thousands protested in Bucharest against the annulment of Romania’s presidential election and the ban on far-right frontrunner Calin Georgescu. With a new vote set for May, George Simion emerges as the hard-right's candidate, as tensions rise over Romania’s political future and EU ties.
Thousands of Romanians gathered in the capital Bucharest on Wednesday to protest the December cancellation of a presidential election and the banning of its far-right frontrunner from standing for office again.
The European Union and NATO member which borders Ukraine will repeat its two-round presidential election on May 4 and 18 after the Constitutional Court voided the initial ballot in December following accusations of Russian meddling in favour of far-right, pro-Russian frontrunner Calin Georgescu.
Earlier this month, it banned Georgescu from running again, and George Simion, leader of Romania's second largest party, the Alliance for Uniting Romanians (AUR), subsequently became the hard right's replacement candidate.
Georgescu, who turned 63 on Wednesday, has not publicly commented since he was disqualified and has stopped short of outright endorsing Simion.
Opinion surveys released earlier this month show Simion is poised to make it into the run-off vote on May 18.
Simion's AUR organised Wednesday's protest outside the government headquarters in downtown Bucharest, which saw several thousand people gather, shouting "Freedom" and "Thieves," waving flags and blowing vuvuzelas.
Separately, a competing pro-Georgescu rally saw several thousand more protesters gather.
"This fake government should fall. It has cut democracy and sold the country," said Claudiu Ghita, 62, a retired railroad worker. "I will vote for George Simion in May."
If a far-right candidate succeeds in swaying Georgescu's voters, it could determine whether another central European country swings closer to Moscow beside Hungary and Slovakia.
"Calin Georgescu is out, we will vote Simion. The ultranationalists have not been in power yet and we need peace," said Maria, who declined to give her last name. She was wearing a red Make America Great Again T-shirt and waving a giant Romanian flag.
The far right, which now holds 35% of parliament seats, has painted Romanian mainstream parties as beholden to covert Brussels interests, and has stoked fears that EU support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia will pull Romania into the war.
A far-right candidate is projected to win the first round of Romania’s presidential election rerun in May, a survey shows. However, centrist Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan is expected to prevail in the final round, keeping Romania on its pro-European course despite rising nationalist rhetoric.
Romanian far-right politician and Russian supporter Calin Georgescu has refrained from endorsing any other candidate after being definitively barred from standing in May’s presidential election rerun.
Supporters of far-right politician Calin Georgescu clashed with police outside the central election authority in Bucharest on Sunday following news that the electoral commission barred him from the re-run of the country's cancelled presidential election.
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Trump threatens to impose secondary tariffs on Russian oil if Moscow obstructs efforts to end the war in Ukraine, expressing frustration over Putin's comments on Zelenskiy’s leadership.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran of potential airstrikes and secondary tariffs if no agreement is reached over its nuclear programme, following ongoing talks and previous sanctions reimposition after the U.S. withdrew from the 2015 deal.
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U.S. President Donald Trump expressed strong frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he was "very angry" and "pissed off" over remarks about Ukraine’s leadership. He warned of tariffs on Russian oil if Moscow is deemed responsible for prolonging the war.
Trump threatens to impose secondary tariffs on Russian oil if Moscow obstructs efforts to end the war in Ukraine, expressing frustration over Putin's comments on Zelenskiy’s leadership.
U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran of potential airstrikes and secondary tariffs if no agreement is reached over its nuclear programme, following ongoing talks and previous sanctions reimposition after the U.S. withdrew from the 2015 deal.
Richard Chamberlain, renowned for his iconic roles in TV dramas and films, has passed away at 90. The Emmy-nominated actor, famed for his work in "Dr. Kildare" and "Shogun," left a lasting legacy in the entertainment industry.
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