CCR rejects challenges against Șoșoacă and Simion candidacies
UPDATE: The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR) rejected on Monday the challenges filed against the non-registration of Diana Șoșoacă’s candidacy and the registration of George Simion’s candidacy for the presidential elections in May.
The Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) had rejected on Saturday the candidacy of the president of S.O.S. Romania, Diana Iovanovici-Șoșoacă, based on last year’s ruling by the Constitutional Court, reports Agerpres.
"As the Constitutional Court already ruled in Decision 2/2024, regarding this electoral cycle, about the attitudes, conduct, and public stances of this candidate, finding them contrary to constitutional principles and values, the Central Electoral Bureau is obligated to enforce the Court’s ruling," BEC stated.
Similarly, BEC stated that, in this context, "the fulfillment of other conditions for candidacy registration and electoral symbol approval is irrelevant."
Last year, the Constitutional Court rejected Diana Șoșoacă’s candidacy for the presidential election, which was later annulled. The president of S.O.S. Romania is one of five candidates for the May presidential elections whose candidacies were rejected during Saturday’s BEC session.
Regarding George Simion, the Constitutional Court also rejected on Sunday three other challenges against the Central Electoral Bureau’s validation of the AUR leader’s candidacy.
Romania: CCR considers new appeals
New challenges will be considered by the Constitutional Court of Romania on Monday, starting at 2:00 PM, reports Radio România Actualități. Three of these concern the Central Electoral Bureau’s decision to reject Diana Șoșoacă’s candidacy for the presidential elections.
One challenge was filed by the leader of S.O.S. Romania herself, who claims that the invalidation of her candidacy by the Central Electoral Bureau is illegal and unfounded.
Two other challenges concern the candidacy of AUR president George Simion, which has already been validated by BEC. One of the arguments presented in one of the challenges refers to George Simion’s public discourse against BEC members.
It is important to note that the following candidates have been accepted in the race for Cotroceni: George Simion, Victor Ponta, Nicușor Dan, Elena Lasconi, Cristian Terheș, Crin Antonescu, and Lavinia Șandru. Meanwhile, Călin Georgescu and Paul Ispas are not eligible to compete, as their candidacies were rejected.
The Central Electoral Bureau must also make a ruling on the final eight applications submitted on Saturday, with a decision expected by the end of Monday.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
