This past weekend, Romania’s electoral commission disqualified Calin Georgescu, a leading nationalist candidate, from running in the upcoming presidential election scheduled for May. This decision is part of a larger controversy that began when last December’s presidential elections were unexpectedly canceled. Critics, including U.S. politicians like Vice President J.D. Vance and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, have called this cancellation a sign of democratic decline in the European Union. They warn that such actions pose a geopolitical risk to American interests in a region already fraught with tension.
Georgescu, who has openly supported former President Trump, has been labeled “far right” by some in the Western media due to his nationalist views. He was expected to perform well in the elections after finishing first in the initial round last year. However, the Romanian Constitutional Court nullified the elections, citing unverified claims of Russian interference through TikTok as the reason. Many find it hard to believe that such a claim could justify overturning an election in a European Union country.
The court’s actions have drawn parallels to authoritarian regimes, where leaders decide which candidates are suitable based on their political beliefs. In this case, Georgescu’s views were deemed a threat to Romania’s constitutional order and its relationship with the West. This is not the first time a candidate has been barred; last year, another nationalist, Diana Sosoaca, faced similar accusations.
Interestingly, Georgescu’s stance on the Ukraine conflict, advocating for a ceasefire and questioning Romania’s unconditional support for Ukraine, has also been seen as problematic. Such positions have been labeled as pro-Russian and anti-Western, which Romanian judges considered a national security threat. Critics argue that this approach is reminiscent of Soviet-era tactics, where dissenting opinions were suppressed.
At a recent security conference in Munich, Vance pointed out the widening gap in values between the U.S. and the EU. He highlighted that the Romanian people have been denied their fundamental right to choose their president, despite the EU’s self-proclaimed role as a defender of democracy.
While Romania may not be a major European power, it is significant as the EU’s sixth largest country and a key ally of the U.S. It hosts important military bases that are vital for regional security against Russian threats. This situation gives the U.S. leverage; Washington could make continued military support conditional on ensuring that other nationalist candidates, like George Simion, are allowed to run in future elections.
In light of these developments, the U.S. may need to reassess its relationship with Romania and consider sanctions against officials involved in what some are calling an electoral coup. Additionally, there is a growing call for increased support for nationalist parties in Europe that align with American conservative values, as the current EU leadership appears increasingly resistant to populist movements. The unfolding situation in Romania serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing democracy in Europe today.