Romania's Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) has disqualified far-right politician Călin Georgescu from the upcoming rerun of the presidential election, citing violations of democratic norms and undisclosed financial backing from foreign sources.

Georgescu had unexpectedly topped the initial round of the election, but the Constitutional Court annulled those results due to concerns of Russian interference, including accusations of organized online campaigns and cyberattacks on electoral systems.

The BEC's choice to exclude Georgescu from the May election rerun has led to protests in Bucharest, where supporters have clashed with law enforcement.

Georgescu has challenged the disqualification in the Constitutional Court, claiming that the ban threatens democratic values.

International responses have been varied.

Russian authorities have condemned the decision, calling it a breach of democratic principles and questioning the legitimacy of the upcoming elections in the absence of Georgescu.

As Romania gears up for the rescheduled presidential elections, the political atmosphere remains charged, with the first round scheduled for May 4 and a possible runoff on May 18.