Calin Georgescu, the hard-right pro-Russian frontrunner in Romania’s voided presidential election, submitted his candidacy for rerun on Friday amid doubts that he will be allowed to run.
Several hundred supporters waved flags and chanted his name as he filed his candidacy papers with the central election bureau.
“We embrace together the Trump-Vance administration for our shared values, namely peace, democracy and freedom,” the 62-year-old told reporters, warning that an attempt to block his candidacy would not stand.
Within minutes, two people, the dean of the School of Political and Administrative Studies Remus Pricopie and a lawyer, officially contested his candidacy, claiming he was unfit to hold the post.
If the electoral bureau accepts his bid, it would very likely be challenged at the top court, which has previously banned another far-right politician from running, arguing her anti-Semitic anti-European views made her unfit for the job.
The Constitutional Court must rule on potential challenges by March 19.
The Constitutional Court voided the election two days before the second round of voting in December, citing allegations of Russian interference in Georgescu’s favor. Moscow denies meddling.
Officials of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration criticized Romania’s annulled election saying it was evidence of European Union governments suppressing freedom of speech and non-mainstream political opponents.
Georgescu is under criminal investigation on six counts, including membership in a fascist organization, undermining the constitution and communicating false information about campaign financing. He has denied all wrongdoing.
Georgescu has praised Romania’s 1930s fascist leaders and expressed admiration for Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He remains voters’ top choice in opinion polls.\
