Electoral authorities in Romania have allowed the leader of an ultranationalist party to run in the country's presidential elections, to be held in May.
The decision was made a few days after the Constitutional Court upheld the measure banning far-right populist Calin Georgescu from participating in the elections.
The Central Electoral Board approved the candidacy of George Simion, leader of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR) and ally of Georgescu, on March 15th - a day after Simion submitted his application for registration as a candidate.
Simion and Anamaria Gavrila, leader of the far-right Youth Party (POT) and former AUR member, said earlier this week that they will try to enter the race and if both are allowed to, one will withdraw.
Gavrila was expected to submit her application on March 15, which was also the deadline to do so.
On the same day, the Central Electoral Board rejected the candidacy of another far-right politician, the head of the SOS Romania party, Diana Sosoaca, and approved the candidacy of the pro-European centrist politician, Elena Lasconi.
Sosoaca was also rejected when the elections were held in November.
Georgescu, who is critical of NATO and opposes Romanian support for Ukraine, was the surprise winner of the most votes in the first round of the election, on November 24. Simion came in fourth.
After those elections, Romanian intelligence said that foreign actors, most likely from Russia, had manipulated social media platforms, especially TikTok, in Georgescu's favor.
On December 6 - while the runoff between Georgescu and Lascon was pending - the Constitutional Court annulled the presidential elections.
They were then set for May 4, while the runoff - if necessary - will be held on May 18. REL (A2 Televizion)
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