On Thursday, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rejected Călin Georgescu’s appeal to overturn Romania’s Constitutional Court’s annulment of the 2024 presidential election. Georgescu, a pro-Russian, ultra-nationalist candidate, had contested the court’s decision, arguing it violated his right to a fair election and undermined his political participation.
Georgescu’s complaint, submitted in December 2024, claimed the Constitutional Court’s annulment was based on unproven accusations and lacked transparency. He also argued it breached his rights under the European Human Rights Convention, citing the right to free elections, a fair trial, and effective remedy. However, the ECHR ruled his complaints inadmissible, stating they were incompatible with the Convention’s provisions and dismissed his claims as “manifestly ill-founded.”
Romania’s Constitutional Court had halted the ongoing election in December after intelligence documents revealed Russian interference in the election process. The court’s ruling, presented as a response to alleged Russian hybrid attacks, was controversial, particularly since Georgescu, who had gained momentum via TikTok, is viewed as a supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He denounced the court’s decision as a “formalized coup d’etat.”
In response to the annulment, Romanian authorities have called for a fresh election, with the first round scheduled for May 4, 2025. President Klaus Iohannis, facing pressure over the election’s legitimacy and Russian influence, announced his resignation in early February. Meanwhile, Romanian prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into Georgescu.
The ECHR’s ruling marks the latest development in the ongoing political turmoil surrounding Romania’s presidential election and the wider issue of foreign influence in democratic processes.
