Romania’s highest court has declared that a hardline nationalist candidate’s pro-Russian, anti-European Union, and anti-NATO stances render her ineligible to compete for the presidency in the forthcoming election, as reported by Reuters.
Romania, a member of the European Union and NATO, will hold a two-round presidential election on Nov. 24 and Dec. 8, with legislative votes in between.
The Constitutional Court removed Diana Sosoaca, the leader of the ultra-nationalist eurosceptic opposition party SOS Romania, from the list of candidates late on Saturday. However, the court did not publish an explanation of its decision until late Monday.
The Constitution grants the right to run for president to any Romanian citizen over the age of 35 who does not have a criminal record.
However, the Court determined that Sosoaca’s public views prevented her from upholding her presidential pledge to uphold the Constitution and defend democracy if elected.
Four judges suggested and supported by the ruling Social Democrats said the majority “has sufficient grounds to indicate Diana Sosoaca, as a presidential candidate, questions and disregards the obligation to respect the Constitution through public speech calling for the removal of fundamental state values and choices, namely EU and NATO membership.”
European Parliament member Sosoaca is well-known for her anti-Semitic and pro-Russian attitudes. However, several lawmakers claimed that removing her right to run for office compromised the rule of law and created a risky precedent for candidates’ elimination.
Russia recruits European politicians to support its propaganda and influence public perspective.
