Romanian elections: European Court rejects Georgescu’s appeal

Brussels – Another slap in the face of Călin Georgescu, the pro-Russian candidate who came first in Romania’s annulled presidential elections last December. For the second time in just over a month, the European Court of Human Rights has rejected the ultranationalist politician’s appeal, ruling it inadmissible.

The competent three-judge panel of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), based in Strasbourg, unanimously rejected this morning (March 6) the appeal filed by Călin Georgescu. The 62-year-old ultranationalist had been seeking legal redress against the invalidation of the Romanian presidential elections held on November 24 (from which he emerged as the winner in the first round, qualifying for the runoff) by the Constitutional Court in Bucharest two days before the second round based on declassified information of the secret services regarding Russian interference in the electoral process.

In his appeal, he argued that the annulment of the election round violated his right to free elections, enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights, which serves as the statute of the Strasbourg Court, as well as other procedural rights (to an equal trial and an effective remedy). He also complained of further violations of his freedom of expression and freedom of association, arguing that the Romanian Constitutional Court’s decision was unlawful, disproportionate, and politically motivated.

Calin Georgescu v. Romania – European Court of Human Rights rejects Calin Georgescu’s application for annulment of Romania’s presidential elections https://t.co/VEDxpAheEc###§§##### #ECHR## #CEDH## #ECHRpress## pic.twitter.com/SpBlAyui4r##

— ECHR CEDH (@ECHR_CEDH) March 6, 2025

The judges in Strasbourg dismissed all accusations, basing their decision on the relevant provisions of the Romanian legislation. At the same time, the points specifically related to the alleged political interference that would have led to Georgescu’s exclusion from the electoral process were considered manifestly ill-founded.

It is the second time the former pro-Russian candidate has lost an appeal to the ECHR. In late January, the court had rejected his request to adopt an interim measure again in connection with the presidential annulment.

In chronological order, the latest setback for Georgescu occurred on February 26, when he was detained (and later released) by Romanian authorities investigating a series of irregularities in the first round of elections in November. Georgescu is reportedly not directly at the heart of the investigation, at least for now. The new date set for the presidential election is May 4, with the runoff scheduled for May 18.