Romania's electoral commission has removed another far-right candidate, Diana Șoșoacă, from the upcoming presidential election in May, adding to the growing tensions surrounding the event. This decision follows the earlier disqualification of Călin Georgescu, an independent candidate who had been leading in the polls with about 40% support before the election rerun.
Georgescu gained attention last November by unexpectedly leading in the initial presidential voting round. However, the constitutional court later nullified the election due to allegations of Russian interference and extensive social media promotion in his favor.
On Saturday, the electoral commission announced its decision to disqualify Șoșoacă, citing a previous ban by the constitutional court for her statements that were deemed contrary to democratic principles. Despite this, the commission approved the candidacy of George Simion, head of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR), making him the most notable far-right candidate still in the race.
Șoșoacă, a 49-year-old member of the European Parliament known for her pro-Russian stance, expressed her dissatisfaction on Facebook, claiming the situation proves a lack of democracy. She plans to appeal the decision. Earlier, she symbolically wore boxing gloves while submitting her candidacy, vowing to "fight the system" and echoing slogans similar to those used by former U.S. President Trump.
Accusations against Șoșoacă include spreading pro-Kremlin propaganda and antisemitic rhetoric. She was a vocal opponent of Covid-19 restrictions and was expelled from the European Parliament in July 2024 for disruptive behavior during debates. Her party, SOS. Romania, secured 24 seats in the December legislative elections with about 7% of the vote.
The AUR criticized the ban on Șoșoacă's candidacy, calling it a significant blow to Romanian democracy and a violation of fundamental rights. The political landscape in Romania has been unstable since Georgescu's unexpected rise last November, fueled by a massive TikTok campaign suspected of Russian involvement. The November election was annulled, and Georgescu was permanently barred from the race, with the first round of voting set for May 4.
Georgescu's exclusion has sparked violent protests, and on Saturday, thousands marched in Bucharest to show their support for the EU.