The Co-Chairmen of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) Group, Nicola Procaccini and Patryk Jaki, have strongly condemned the decision of the Romanian electoral commission to reject the candidacy of Călin Georgescu for the presidential election scheduled for May.

Georgescu, who had won the first round of the presidential election, which was subsequently annulled, submitted 324,000 declarations of support for his re-nomination last Friday. The rejection of his candidacy by the electoral commission, without a court ruling and based on alleged incomplete documentation, appears “flimsy and unjustifiable,” according to the ECR Co-Chairmen. They argue that this case raises serious concerns about the rule of law in the country and the democratic integrity of the current Romanian government, led by Social Democrat Marcel Ciolacu. In a functioning democracy, the rights of candidates—including those who challenge the political establishment—must be respected. The ECR Group’s Co-Chairmen are calling on the European Commission to break its silence and speak out against this breach of democratic standards.

ECR Co-Chairman Nicola Procaccini said:

“The exclusion of Călin Georgescu, winner of the annulled first round of the Romanian presidential elections, from standing again is shocking. It is unacceptable that this has occurred without any evidence being presented and while court proceedings are still pending.

“This is a blatant violation of the rule of law and democratic principles—something unprecedented within the European Union. How can it be that the European Commission does not consider it necessary to formally denounce such an act?”

ECR Co-Chairman Patryk Jaki said:

“It is deeply troubling that the winner of the first round of the annulled presidential election and frontrunner in all pre-election polls, has been barred from standing again based on flimsy reasons.

“Călin Georgescu may indeed be an uncomfortable candidate for the so-called ‘pro-European’ elites because he opposes their policies, but in a true democracy that is no reason to deny him his candidacy. Such an attack on the rule of law and democracy is without precedent in the EU, and it is telling that the European Commission believes it can remain silent in the face of this scandal.”