That means Georgescu can have another go next time — as long as he plays by the rules.
In his appeal to the court, Georgescu — whose original candidacy was allegedly boosted by a Russia-backed TikTok influence operation — insisted that his expulsion from the election do-over could permanently suppress his constitutional right to stand for election.
The court ruled that the entire electoral process of the 2024 presidential election was flawed, as it undermined equal opportunities for competitors, and compromised the transparency and fairness of the electoral campaign, including its funding.
It stated that Georgescu was barred from participating in the rerun due to his “failure to comply with the legal regulations regarding the electoral procedure — essential for democracy and the rule of law.”
Despite the final verdict, Georgescu’s shadow is likely to loom large over the May vote. Clashes between his supporters and police ensued Sunday when the election commission announced its ban, which was later upheld by the top court.
Georgescu has garnered more influential support abroad. “How can a judge end democracy in Romania?” tweeted billionaire U.S. presidential adviser Elon Musk on Monday. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s press secretary said that blocking Georgescu from the election rerun was “a violation of all democratic norms in the center of Europe.”
