Before the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) in Bucharest, a scuffle broke out between police and supporters of Romanian politician Calin Georgescu. The authorities had previously excluded Georgescu from participating in the upcoming May elections. Georgescu had won the first round of the presidential election in November, but the Constitutional Court later annulled the results.
Georgescu condemned the court’s decision on Sunday and stated that the electoral board’s decision had severe consequences for democracy not only in Romania, but worldwide.
The BEC’s decision can be appealed to the Constitutional Court within 24 hours, with a final ruling expected within 48 hours. The electoral board did not provide a statement explaining the decision, only announcing that the full text of the ruling would be published online at a later time.
The announcement sparked a strong reaction from a crowd of Georgescu’s supporters, who had gathered in front of the BEC building. Many of the demonstrators became agitated and attempted to push past the police barriers, engaging in a physical altercation with the law enforcement officers, who were present in the area in large numbers. The officers responded with tear gas and pepper spray, with several demonstrators appearing to be affected, as shown in on-site footage.
More information to follow.