Media reports: Overturning of Romania’s presidential election cancellation
An appeals court in Romania has put a hold on the Constitutional Court’s ruling that annulled the first-round results of last year’s presidential election, which had been unexpectedly won by independent candidate Calin Georgescu, according...
TroibNews 
An appeals court in Romania has put a hold on the Constitutional Court’s ruling that annulled the first-round results of last year’s presidential election, which had been unexpectedly won by independent candidate Calin Georgescu, according to local media reports on Thursday.
Georgescu, a prominent critic of NATO and an opponent of supplying arms to Ukraine, garnered headlines in November 2024 by receiving 23% of the vote in the election's first round. However, the Constitutional Court later invalidated this result, citing "irregularities" in his campaign and intelligence reports alleging Russian interference—a claim that Moscow has denied.
On Thursday, Judge Alexandru Vasile of the Ploiesti Court of Appeal reversed the annulment, as reported by HotNews. An appeal was also filed by the prosecutor’s office associated with the Ploiesti court.
George Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians party, praised the decision as a “return to democracy” and constitutional order in a post on X. However, he noted that the Central Electoral Bureau, which prohibited Georgescu from running in the upcoming May vote, “ignores it and continues its activity.”
In February, Georgescu was indicted on six criminal charges, which include allegedly plotting “anti-constitutional acts” and “promoting fascist, racist, or xenophobic ideologies.” He has denied all these charges, asserting that the criminal case against him is part of a campaign orchestrated by Romania's “deep state.”
Media reports indicate that Georgescu is currently under a 60-day travel ban as part of judicial oversight and will remain under court supervision for another 60 days.
Preliminary findings from an investigation into the "irregularities" suggest they may have been caused by a consulting firm linked to the pro-Western National Liberal Party, which conducted a campaign on behalf of an opponent of Georgescu, but it ultimately backfired.
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
Georgescu, a prominent critic of NATO and an opponent of supplying arms to Ukraine, garnered headlines in November 2024 by receiving 23% of the vote in the election's first round. However, the Constitutional Court later invalidated this result, citing "irregularities" in his campaign and intelligence reports alleging Russian interference—a claim that Moscow has denied.
On Thursday, Judge Alexandru Vasile of the Ploiesti Court of Appeal reversed the annulment, as reported by HotNews. An appeal was also filed by the prosecutor’s office associated with the Ploiesti court.
George Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians party, praised the decision as a “return to democracy” and constitutional order in a post on X. However, he noted that the Central Electoral Bureau, which prohibited Georgescu from running in the upcoming May vote, “ignores it and continues its activity.”
In February, Georgescu was indicted on six criminal charges, which include allegedly plotting “anti-constitutional acts” and “promoting fascist, racist, or xenophobic ideologies.” He has denied all these charges, asserting that the criminal case against him is part of a campaign orchestrated by Romania's “deep state.”
Media reports indicate that Georgescu is currently under a 60-day travel ban as part of judicial oversight and will remain under court supervision for another 60 days.
Preliminary findings from an investigation into the "irregularities" suggest they may have been caused by a consulting firm linked to the pro-Western National Liberal Party, which conducted a campaign on behalf of an opponent of Georgescu, but it ultimately backfired.
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
