Romania's Central Election Bureau (BEC) rejected far-right politician Diana Sosoaca's presidential candidacy on Saturday while approving George Simion, who leads the country's second-largest parliamentary party. The decision continues the political turbulence that began when last year's presidential election was annulled just days before the runoff.

The BEC barred Sosoaca, 49, from entering the May rerun on the same grounds that led to her exclusion from last year's canceled election. According to the Constitutional Court, her public stance against Romania's EU and NATO memberships made her unfit for presidential office.

Sosoaca, who leads the nationalist S.O.S. Romania party, has vowed to appeal the decision to the Constitutional Court within the mandatory 24-hour window. In a public letter addressed to U.S. President Donald Trump, she claimed "the democratic system has been destroyed and the elections have already been rigged."

The political uncertainty comes amid broader economic worries across Europe. Consumer confidence has weakened as inflation concerns grow, with many Romanians feeling the pinch of rising prices. Economic anxiety often fuels populist movements, potentially adding to the appeal of nationalist candidates in the upcoming election.

Meanwhile, the election bureau validated the candidacy of George Simion, 38, who heads the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR). Simion finished fourth in last year's first round with 13.8% of the vote but has expressed concerns about also being excluded from the upcoming race.

"Now let's see if we can pass the CCR and return to democracy," Simion wrote on Facebook after his candidacy was approved. He is currently under criminal investigation for allegedly inciting violence after last year's first-round winner Calin Georgescu was barred from the May rerun this week.

The far-right has gained significant momentum in Romania in recent years. Simion's AUR party doubled its support in the December parliamentary election to 18.2%, up from 9% four years earlier. Simion has previously:

• Campaigned for reunification with neighboring Moldova, which has barred him from entry
• Been banned from Ukraine, where authorities cited security concerns
• Denied any wrongdoing in the incitement investigation, claiming it is politically motivated

The first round of the presidential rerun is scheduled for May 4, with a possible runoff on May 18 if no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote. The BEC also approved pro-Western Elena Lasconi's candidacy. She was set to face Georgescu in last year's canceled runoff. The final list of confirmed candidates will be known on March 19, after all appeals are resolved.