The European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday rejected an appeal by Romania's far-right presidential candidate to overturn a domestic court decision to annul a December presidential election. Calin Georgescu was the frontrunner after the first round of the Nov.

Europe's top rights court on Tuesday rejected Romanian far-right candidate Calin Georgescu's appeal against the annulment of the country's 2024 presidential election after he won the first round amid claims of Russian interference.

The unprecedented cancelation of Romania’s vote drew condemnation from across the political spectrum, including from Georgescu’s ideological foes. His would-be opponent in the now-canceled runoff, reformist candidate Elena Lasconi, said Romania’s democracy was being “trampled” by the state.

Călin Georgescu, the far-right candidate who emerged as the favourite at the first round of the annulled presidential election in December, is leading in an opinion poll based on him running in the vote rescheduled for May.

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Thousands of Romanians rallied outside the country's top court on Friday to protest against the December cancellation of the presidential election in which a little-known pro-Russian candidate won the first round.